Undersecretary Scalfarotto commented positively on the agreement reached between the US and the EU for access to their respective markets for European and American products worth more than 100 million exchanges per year. “This is a step in the right direction,” commented Mr Scalfarotto.
“Although this is a limited agreement, for the first time in many years a reduction in tariffs in transatlantic trade is being agreed. There are still many issues to be resolved between Washington and Brussels, but we believe that this path of a progressive reduction of tariff barriers should be followed, in particular those unfairly imposed in the USA in 2019 on some of our food products, including Parmesan cheese, following the Airbus subsidies ruling.
Italy is a major exporting country that clearly benefits from international trade and we will have to be vigilant, as a member of the EU but also as the next G20 Presidency, to prevent protectionist impulses at a global level from leading to a repetition of the mistakes made in the past and threatening a post covid economic recovery that must be supported and strengthened with appropriate policies”.
