Farnesina –
Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi participated in the EU Foreign Affairs/Trade Council meeting in Brussels. Among the items on the agenda are reform of the World Trade Organization, trade relations between the European Union and the United States, and trade support for Ukraine.
Under Secretary Tripodi intervened to stress the primary objective of the WTO’s institutional reform in light of the 13th Ministerial Conference, in order to promote trade pluralism. In this context, re-establishing an effective dispute settlement system is a priority.
Regarding relations with the United States, the Undersecretary affirmed that Italy is firmly convinced of the value of the positive trade agenda across the Atlantic, for the increasing flow of trade and investment between the European Union and the United States, in an effort to finally resolve the trade disputes that still exist. existing ones and avoiding new ones. He then expressed concern about the US’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes measures that could negatively affect exports and investments: which is why Italy welcomes the creation of a joint “task force” to address European concerns.
The Under Secretary then reiterated Italy’s political support for the Commission’s intentions to underscore support for Ukraine also in the commercial sector and the importance of resolving some market access problems.
During the subsequent working lunch, the Under Secretary reaffirmed Italy’s open and constructive role in expanding the EU’s network of trade agreements with the Indo-Pacific region, Latin America and Africa, and with regard to GSP countries, he noted the importance of protection. Italian and European rice sector.