Rome, 12 July (LaPresse) – ‘We now expect the government and Giorgia Meloni to take a clear and strong stance because their political friendships cannot be allowed to damage national and European interests’. This was stated by PD secretary Elly Schlein on the sidelines of the National Conference on Industrial Policy organised by the party in Rome. "The impact of 30% tariffs would be devastating for the Italian and European economies. I hope that between now and 1 August there will be time and space to strengthen the European negotiations and reach an agreement that will avert a trade war. What Donald Trump is pursuing for purely ideological reasons is autarchic madness,‘ reiterated the Democratic Party leader, recalling: ’From the beginning, we have said that Europe must be ready to negotiate as a united front and ready to strike where it hurts most, namely the interests of American big tech, of which Trump is the lobbyist. We saw this when he forced other governments to remove the global minimum tax aimed precisely at American big tech. Europe must be united and compact; it would be detrimental to embark on a strategy of bilateral negotiations. Now let's try to support the European negotiations. I hope this will be another element of clamour, but that between now and 1 August there will be time to avert this trade war." Any compensation measures? ‘The first strategy is to avoid tariffs and, if that is not possible, to be ready for a strong European response that hits Donald Trump where it hurts most. A plan like Sanchez's, with 30 billion in new resources, can be implemented immediately. Meloni has announced a 20 billion plan, but not a single euro of that is new; it is all from funds already allocated.’