The recent proposal by President Trump to impose a 30% tariff on all European products entering the United States has raised significant concerns among industry leaders. Paolo Mascarino, the President of Federalimentare, expressed that such tariffs are detrimental to trade and emphasized a preference for a zero-tariff free trade area between Europe and the U.S. He stated that this new tariff exceeds any reasonable limit for businesses and could lead to a substantial decline in exports, especially considering the current depreciation of the dollar.

Mascarino highlighted that the combination of U.S. tariffs and dollar devaluation would be unsustainable for various sectors. He called on the European Union (EU) to take public measures similar to those of the U.S., not through subsidies but by implementing structural interventions aimed at enhancing competitive capacity. This includes reducing internal EU tariffs, streamlining bureaucratic processes, reforming energy markets to lower prices, and facilitating access to credit.

He acknowledged that while it is understandable for the EU to respond politically to American tariffs in order to maintain institutional dignity, any response should be cautious and open to negotiation due to potential further retaliatory tariffs from the U.S. Mascarino noted that Italy's food industry heavily relies on exports, with the U.S. being its second-largest market after Germany, accounting for €7.7 billion (approximately $8.5 billion) in revenue in 2024.

Overall, he stressed the importance of supporting Italian businesses in maintaining their competitiveness in such a challenging international landscape.

Original article (italy) (germany)

This article doesn't give you any super-helpful tips or steps to take. It's more like a big talk about what some important people think about a problem with tariffs, which are like taxes on things from other countries. It doesn't teach you anything super-special or give you any cool ideas to use. It's not really about you and your life, and it won't help you do anything new or different. It's just a story about what might happen and what some people want to do, but it doesn't tell you how to fix the problem or make things better for you. It's not trying to trick you or make you click on ads, but it's not very useful either. It's more like a grown-up talk that might be important for some people, but it doesn't really help you in your everyday life.

The text shows a clear bias towards supporting businesses and the economy, especially in the food industry. It emphasizes the potential negative impact of tariffs on exports and revenue, which could affect Italian businesses. This bias is seen when Mascarino states, "This new tariff exceeds any reasonable limit for businesses..." He focuses on the economic consequences, highlighting the potential decline in exports and the reliance of Italy's food industry on the U.S. market.

The text primarily conveys a sense of concern and apprehension regarding the proposed tariffs. This emotion is evident throughout the passage, especially in Paolo Mascarino's statements. His use of words like "detrimental," "unsustainable," and "substantial decline" paints a picture of potential economic hardship and instability. The strength of this emotion is moderate to high, as it is a serious issue with significant implications for businesses and industries.

Mascarino's concern serves to highlight the potential negative impact of the tariffs on European exports, particularly for Italy's food industry. By expressing this worry, he aims to create awareness and sympathy among readers, encouraging them to understand the gravity of the situation and potentially support a resolution that benefits European businesses.

The writer effectively employs emotional language to convey the severity of the issue. For instance, describing the tariffs as "exceeding any reasonable limit" and the combination of tariffs and dollar devaluation as "unsustainable" adds a sense of urgency and severity to the problem. This emotional language is further reinforced by Mascarino's call for action, where he suggests specific measures to enhance competitive capacity within the EU.

By repeating the idea of potential economic harm and emphasizing the reliance of Italy's food industry on exports, the writer builds a compelling case for why this issue is important and warrants attention. This emotional appeal is a powerful tool to persuade readers, as it makes them feel invested in the outcome and more likely to support a resolution that mitigates the negative impact of the proposed tariffs.