The Greek economy will be able to cope with the difficult challenges created by the "global trade war" that is  beginning after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reassured listeners during his speech at an event to present the Just Transition Development Programme in Western Macedonia on Thursday.

"Not only is Western Macedonia a region in transition, I would say that our country is also a country in transition, it is a country that must run fast, to cover the lost ground of the multi-year economic crisis. It is also a country that must, of course, demonstrate the necessary flexibility and adaptability in order to be able to continuously respond to international challenges and changes in the global economic and geopolitical environment. Just yesterday, I imagine you heard, President Trump announced a colossal, I would say, shift in economic policy, in the international trade policy of the United States. It's a historic shift toward protectionism and a very sudden change in the way the global economic system has operated for many decades. It is also, I would say, a departure from the way the European Union has understood economic and social progress since its foundation," the prime minister pointed out. 
He noted that Greece "has always been an advocate of free trade" and expressed the belief that "this trade war, which is starting, will ultimately benefit no one." 
"It will harm everyone. And I hope and wish that we can soon be led to a de-escalation of these protectionist practices. Greece will play a leading role within the European Union because that is where the decisions we will make on how to react to this historically unprecedented decision taken by the US will be shaped. In any case, I want to assure you that the Greek economy, with a plan, with responsibility, will be able to meet these difficult challenges. I referred to this development only in order to point out how fluid, I would say, the international economic and geopolitical environment currently is and the importance of the political stability that we have in the country at this time and of the ability of this government to be able to chart a stable course for our homeland in these extremely turbulent times," Mitsotakis concluded.

See also: 

Mitsotakis: The Just Transition Development Programme aims to create many new and well-paid jobs