PM to Breitbart: Europe can reach ‘win-win solution’ with Trump on trade

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday the European Union and the United States can reach a “win-win” trade deal that is “mutually beneficial” for both.

“There is a European message and then there is a Greek message,” Mitsotakis was quoted as saying by Breitbart News during an interview in his office in Athens. “On the European front there is a possibility of finding a win-win solution when it comes to trade, a solution which will be mutually beneficial. Τhis was my firm belief from the beginning, before tariffs were announced. There is still room for negotiations before we consider any major reciprocal response beyond what has been announced today, which, anyhow, was, the expected EU reaction. I think, at the end of the day, Europe and the European market is very important for the US and US is important for Europe and we need to work out a solution.”

Concerning his Greek-specific message, Mitsotakis said he considers the United States to be a key strategic partner of Greece and mentioned specifically the IMEEC corridor which is a trade corridor deal that Trump has signed with a number of countries including India, Middle Eastern nations, and European nations.

“As far as Greece is concerned, we have a strategic partnership with the US,” Mitsotakis said. “And when I look at IMEEC, Greece, the birthplace of democracy, can be the bridge between the world΄s largest democracy and the most powerful, strongest democracy. For geopolitical, economic reasons, Greece in an important ally to the US. I have worked with President Trump before and I can work very well with him again addressing regional challenges.”

The Greek prime minister also explained his government’s “tough but fair” policy on migration.

“Greece is at the forefront of migration, a front-line country. We followed a tough but fair migration policy and I was the first to push for border protection. When we started this policy in 2020 we were the exception in the EU, the outliers. Now everyone in Europe understands the importance of border protection,” he told Breitbart News. “ It is not up to the smugglers to decide who enters Greece. I am unapologetically tough when it comes to border protection and open when it comes to legal migration.”

The interview comes after Trump hit the European Union with a 20% tariff, to which the bloc responded on Wednesday with retaliatory duties worth €22 billion on US goods. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated, however, that the EU is “ready to negotiate” with the US.

Source: pagenews.gr