“US Tariffs? An opportunity for growth for our businesses.” Salvini praises Trump’s policy

Mar 6 2025, 16:24

The Lega minister defends the US decision to impose additional tariffs on EU agri-food products and pushes for bilateral agreements outside Europe

While agri-food companies are calling on Europe to find a solution to the tariffs announced by Trump, in Italy, there are those who praise the US president’s trade policy. Among them is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, who has never hidden his political affinity with the tycoon, even during the latest encounter-clash with Ukrainian President Zelensky.

Salvini’s controversial stance on Trump’s tariffs

In particular, the Lega leader wrote a social media post in recent days explaining his position: “Those who think Washington is an enemy have understood nothing. Even the tariff policy can be an opportunity for further profit for the Italian system’s businesses: we have a great opportunity for change.” However, this opportunity is difficult to see from the perspective of agri-food companies, which collectively risk losing as much as 2 billion euros.

The return to autarky

Salvini’s reasoning aligns with an autarkic economic policy, which holds that all countries should defend their own products and not import those of others. Of course, in this view, it is hard to imagine how the wine sector (and others) could survive without the 8 billion euros generated from foreign sales.

Salvini withdraws from European negotiations

Lega senator Gian Marco Centinaio had also recently promoted this vision: “Trump is only defending the local economy.” However, Salvini took it a step further in his statements: “We are not Trump’s target,” said the Lega leader, adding that “Italy is in a position that allows it to engage in dialogue with the United States.” The implication: bypassing Europe and opening a bilateral dialogue.

The brakes, however, were applied by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni herself, who, despite never hiding her alignment with Trump, brought the issue back to the EU level: “Negotiations are conducted with Europe,” she said in response to her deputy prime minister’s words. Meanwhile, 2nd April—the deadline set by Trump for agri-food tariffs—is fast approaching.