by gabriele barbati  & Andreas Rogal
It’s published
The European Commission president intervened in several European newspapers on Sunday, including ILSOLE24ORE in Italy and Allgemeine Zeitung in Frankfurt, Germany.
“There’s a lot written about this agreement and a consideration worthy of direct response,” he wrote in an Italian newspaper, “Imagine whether the two biggest economies of the democratic world were unable to reach an agreement and launched a trade war. This would have been celebrated only in Moscow and Beijing.”
On the 15% cap on US tariffs on a range of products, from automobiles to pharmaceuticals, semiconductors to wood, the committee leader said “if not perfect, if not perfect,” recalls how tariffs “pay consumers and businesses,” increasing costs, reducing choices and reducing competitiveness.”
The wind gust of trade agreements
The agreement with the Trump administration also granted other trade assurances to Europe, and von der Leyen continued.
“We recently signed a trade agreement with Mexico and Mercosur, deepening our relationship with Switzerland and the UK, and we aim to enter into consultations with Indonesia and reach an agreement with India by the end of the year,” the president wrote.
In conclusion, Von Der Leyen called for a “strong and independent” Europe, urging it to “complete a single market” and “enhance competitiveness and sustainability.”
On his part, Mario Draghi said at the annual Rimini Conference, a major event in Italy’s political calendar, on Friday, “For many years, the European Union believed that 450 million consumers had geopolitical power and influence on international trade relations.
Last year, Draghi submitted a report containing ideas to strengthen the EU’s economic growth, highlighting the need for the bloc to adapt to survive.