Undersecretary Manlio Di Stefano had a video call with British Foreign Trade Secretary Graham Stuart.
The conversation was an opportunity to take stock of bilateral trade relations, also in view of the Covid-19 crisis and the post-Brexit situation.
Di Stefano presented the main points of the Export Pact, signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Minister Di Maio on 8 June, and its expected effects on the Italian production system.
“Italy and the United Kingdom have always seen trade as the key instrument to ensure the economic prosperity of their respective peoples, as evidenced by the 35 billion euros per year of trade, of which almost 25 billion of our exports,” said Di Stefano.
“Within the framework of the European Union, and without prejudice to the Commission’s negotiating mandate, we are ready to cooperate with the United Kingdom so that Brexit does not become a shock on our bilateral relations”, concluded Di Stefano.