Delphi, Greece – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hopes Europe will try to negotiate a “win-win” free trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump within the next three months. Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum on Thursday, the Greek leader said there was still scope to negotiate some kind of agreement that could “be mutually beneficial.”
Despite Trump's decision to delay the introduction of 20% tariffs on EU products, the prime minister said the current 10% tariffs remained a problem.
“I really think we need to use this 90-day window of opportunity to have a very honest discussion about the trade regime between the US and Europe,” Mitsotakis said, adding that both sides need to back down from their initial positions.
Earlier in the day, Mitsotakis also said the talks could lead to a “zero tariff framework” on imports and imports from the US.
“If we fail to solve this problem, there will only be losers,” Mitsotakis said.
Olive oil tariffs make no sense
Greece's exports to the United States consist mainly of agricultural products such as feta cheese and olive oil.
In 2024, the United States became the fifth most important destination for Greek exports, with total shipments of €2.411 billion.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis with American writer Robert Kaplan at the Delphi Economic Forum, Greece [Euractiv]. [Euractiv]
While food exports are one of the subjects of the dispute, Greece's huge shipping industry has also been badly hit.
“Shipping is the lifeline of global trade […] We therefore have every interest in protecting a rules-based international order that promotes trade rather than restricts it.”
Mitsotakis suggested that Greek producers should look to alternative markets for their products, such as India, but avoided mentioning China, which has invested heavily in the port of Piraeus, the third largest in the EU.
Coalition government only in numbers
Mitsotakis's rightward turn can be explained by the rise of populist parties on the right, such as the Greek Solution and Voice of Reason.
But his one-party government has been in crisis for the past three months due to rising consumer prices and a train crash that killed 57 people.
Earlier in the day, Trump praised Mitsotakis' call for a “win-win” trade solution and called him a “good man.” The Greek leader's comments were even tweeted by the new U.S. ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
A poll published this evening by Mega TV shows that Mitsotakis' popularity has taken a serious hit, with 68% of respondents rating him negatively.
According to the same poll, his centre-right New Democracy party is in first place with 27.3%, followed by the left-wing Freedom Course party with 15%, the socialist PASOK party (12.5%) and the right-wing Greek Solution party (10.4%).
But the fragmented opposition gives Mitsotakis hope, with analysts suggesting that a potential coalition will be difficult to assemble after national elections in 2027.
(Japanese)
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