Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed confidence that the country’s economy can cope with the challenges posed by new tariffs imposed by the United States. During a televised address on Monday, he emphasized the importance of a unified European Union response to this issue, as Greece awaits developments from its 27 member states.
The U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, has introduced sweeping tariff measures that have rattled global financial markets. These tariffs include 25% import duties on steel, aluminum, and cars, along with unilateral tariffs of 20% applied to nearly all other goods, effective from Wednesday.
In response, EU countries are considering approval for a series of targeted countermeasures against these tariffs. Mitsotakis stressed the necessity of a cohesive strategy among EU member states to effectively address the situation.
He indicated that detailed measures would be announced within weeks, highlighting the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence during these challenging times. He pointed out that exports to the United States account for roughly 4% of Greece’s total exports.
Among the products affected by U.S. tariffs are popular Greek items such as olives, olive oil, and feta cheese, which have no equivalent production in the U.S. Mitsotakis described these tariffs as “not very sensible,” acknowledging the potential impact on Greek producers. The Prime Minister’s remarks aimed to reassure citizens and investors alike regarding the government’s readiness to manage the potential economic fallout from these tariffs while promoting a collaborative EU response.