"Confindustria is in favour of multilateralism, we look to the East, to the East. We are not incompatible with China. Industrialists have a duty to look for new marketswhich mean new routes, and I am not just talking about China. Think of markets like Indonesia, Vietnam or the Philippines'. Thus the Vice President for Export and Investment Attraction Barbara Cimmino, interviewed by the Foglio from Tokyo, where he has just concluded his missions to India and Japan with the opening of the Osaka Expo together with Minister Tajani.

On China, the Vice President commented on the 'perplexity over respect for rights' saying that 'the 1,600 Italian companies present in China are virtuous realities, operating in compliance with western rules. In China a path of evolution is underway that concerns sustainability, environmental impact. It is clearly a path. To have natural concerns is correct but it would be wrong to raise barriers'.

On the current global scenario, Cimmino defined the present era as "the time of irrationality and disruption".with explicit references to US trade policy and the figure of Donald Trump. "America will go into recession, but even more frightening is the idea of an unstable world. It seems that Trump is fascinated by disorder, by this new order that he is helping to design. There is nothing more risky for an industrialist than operating in uncertainty'.

On the fact that it is said that Trump's ultimate goal is to distance Europe from China, Cimmino replied: it is 'likely that Trump's final design is this, but Europe already has the tools to defend itself. I am talking about workers' rights, respect for the environment'. Then when asked about the risk of 'flood of Chinese products', replied that there is no doubt 'that China needs to get its surplus production onto the market, but then another issue opens up concerning customs control. We have the tools to guard our borders'.

On the eve of the meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the US President, Cimmino stressed the importance of a united European voice: 'It is crucial that Meloni is supported by von der Leyen because the only possible negotiation remains between America and Europe. Meloni's trip is an opportunity to provide Trump with elements. It is crucial for a premier to tell and tell about himself. Who better to tell the story of Italy than Meloni? We, too, Confindustria, like Meloni, trust in zero to zero".

How much duties and global competitionthe Vice-President of Confindustria emphasised the role of European industry: 'I am optimistic about the possibility of negotiation because we Europeans represent 450 million consumersbecause we have unique characteristics, let us not underestimate our strength".

Cimmino then confirmed his support for Mercosur and free trade agreements: 'Confindustria has been clear. We say yes to Mercosur which is an easy market, it is possible to be in that market, the market that is closest to us and that would make the fortune of small and medium-sized Italian companies.

On the subject of big tech and taxationFinally, the call is for caution: 'Strong retaliation is never good. We need to bridge the technology gap, starting with tools such as the digital euro'.

Finally, the Vice President concluded: 'We remain staunchly pro-European, but the world is changing and our duty is to look elsewhere'.