Giorgia Meloni favorably commented on the agreement reached between the EU and the US on duties. However, the premier asked for help from the EU on the strategic sectors, while the government still hopes that in the final text there is room for clauses “zero for zero“, Especially for agri -food.
However, the most affected sector could be that pharmaceuticalwhich exports over 10 billion euros per year of goods in the USA. For these products, in fact Trump has announced a specific duty, higher than 15%. Meanwhile, the opposition attack the agreement and accuse Meloni of having surrendered to the pressure of the USA.
The Prime Minister released a note, also signed by the vice premier Tajani and Salviniwith which he commented on the agreement on the duties between the EU and the USA. Meloni focuses on the positive aspects, positively judges the agreement and announces that the government is ready to act in favor of the sectors that will suffer more the effect of customs tariffs.
Important, for the government, that the phase of uncertainty that the negotiations had caused. After months of announcements, postponements and deadlines, now the situation is more stable and exports to the United States will be able to resume at a normal pace.
In the note, Meloni does not enter the detail of the agreement, also because the final text is still to be written. But according to the news agency Handlethe executive still hopes that there may be individual agreements “zero for zero“, Which provide for the mutual reduction of all customs rates on certain products.
The Italian sectors most affected by American duties
This solution, zero for zero, could be particularly important for the sector agri -food. Typical products and wines have a fundamental market in the USA, while the competition of American products in Italy would be manageable. France and Spain also move on this front, which are in a situation similar to the Italian one.
| Sector | Export value in millions of euros |
| Machinery and equipment | 12,816.89 euros |
| Basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations | 10,059.36 euros |
| Food products | 4,890.68 euros |
| Motor vehicles, trailers and semi -trailers | 4,377.77 euros |
| Other means of transport | 3,593.90 euros |
However, the wine sector fears the duties, which go from an average of less than 3% to 15%. Italian wine exports in the USA is 19 billion euros on a total turnover of 7.8 billion. The exposure is very high and also applies to the spirits sector. On this front, European sources have made it known to the news agency Handle that there may be margins for an exemption.
The situation is worse for the Italian pharmaceutical sector, the second for exports to the USA after the mechanical one. In 2024 the pharmaceutical companies of our country had exported products to more than more than 10 billion euroson the rise of about 25% from 8 billion in 2023. Trump promised a separate duty for this sector, higher than 15%.
The reaction of the oppositions
The oppositions attacked the agreement on the duties hard. The secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein He spoke of an “condescending” attitude and a bankruptcy approach to the negotiation. Even harder the allies of the Democratic Party, with the 5 Star Movement who speaks of “Caporetto” e AVS of “social disaster”.
The replica of the action leader also lasts Carlo Calendawhich defined the agreement a “capitulation” and the logic that led to the “demented” agreement. Matteo Renzi’s comment also very hard:
The agreement between the United States and Europe on duties is not an agreement: it is the unconditional surrender of Europe to Trump’s sovereignty. The truth is that sovereigns hurt in the world. And if today the American government celebrates, colonial agreements of this genre will bring the United States to the medium term to lose their moral and economic strength.
