Meloni says Trump tariffs are ‘flawed’ as world leaders react

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has mentioned US tariffs on European Union imports are “flawed”, after US President Donald Trump introduced he would start charging a 20% price on EU items.

Meloni is likely one of the many world leaders reacting to Trump’s “liberation day” bulletins, which embrace a common 10% baseline tariff on all imports into the US from 5 April.

Round 60 international locations – together with the EU – can be hit with steeper tariffs from 9 April. Among the highest charges can be levied on smaller international locations, akin to Lesotho, which has been hit with a 50% levy.

Trump mentioned the measures would “make America wealthy once more”, including that he had been “very variety” in his selections.

Meloni, a Trump ally, mentioned the EU tariffs would “not go well with both social gathering” – referring to the EU and the US – however that she would work in direction of a take care of the US to “forestall a commerce battle”.

Her Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez mentioned Spain would shield its firms and employees and “proceed to be dedicated to an open world.”

Irish commerce minister Simon Harris mentioned he was prepared to barter with the US, calling it the “greatest means ahead”, whereas Taoiseach Micheál Martin mentioned Trump’s resolution was “deeply regrettable” and benefitted “no-one”.

Exterior of the EU, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned Individuals would find yourself paying the most important worth for what he known as “unjustified tariffs”, however mentioned his authorities wouldn’t impose reciprocal measures.

“We won’t be a part of a race to the underside that results in increased costs and slower progress”, he added.

Latin America’s largest financial system, Brazil, accredited a legislation in congress on Wednesday – the Financial Reciprocity Legislation – to counter the ten% tariff imposed by Trump. There was no quick response from the president, however final week Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva mentioned his nation “can’t stand nonetheless” in face of the tariffs.

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned international locations to not “retaliate” and “sit again, take it in”.

“As a result of in case you retaliate, there can be escalation”, he advised Fox Information.

Noticeably, the US’s two largest commerce companions, Canada and Mexico, weren’t talked about in Wednesday’s bulletins.

The White Home mentioned it might take care of each international locations based on earlier government orders, which imposed 25% tariffs on the 2 nations as a part of efforts to deal with fentanyl and border points.

Regardless, Canada will nonetheless be impacted by the tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned. Measures such because the 25% tariff on vehicles beginning at midnight on Thursday would “instantly have an effect on tens of millions of Canadians”, he added.

He vowed to “battle these tariffs with counter measures”, including that the US levies would “basically change the worldwide buying and selling system.”