Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in Rome on March 21 that he wants to send a strong message in favor of free trade when U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders meet in Italy for the G-7 meeting in May.
Italy is hosting the annual meeting of seven of the world’s biggest industrialized economies in the town of Taormina in Sicily, May 26-27. It is Trump’s first scheduled trip to Europe.
Gentiloni was speaking after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Rome during Abe’s four-day European tour. Both leaders agreed that the temptation of protectionism be rejected and that the flag of free-trade be held high.
Gentiloni also said he would push the G-7 to favour dialogue over sanctions in its relations with Russia.
(REUTERS)
