Damage to Italy from unmotivated protectionism-Mattarella

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 22 - Unmotivated protectionism will damage Italy, President Sergio Mattarella said Saturday.
    "New clouds seem to be gathering on the horizon, bringing unmotivated protectionism, closure of markets with an incomprehensibly autarchic flavour, which would significantly damage sectors of excellence such as wine and oil", said Mattarella speaking at the 44th Forum of the culture of oil and wine of the Italian Sommelier Foundation underway in Rome.
    Mattarella added that counterposed markets led to serious conflicts.
    "Trade and interdependence are elements that guarantee peace," the president said.
    "In history, the opposition between hostile markets has led to other more serious forms of conflict.
    "Open markets produce a dense network of collaborations that, in the common interest, protect peace", he said.
    Mattarella also said that the future cannot be built by living off nostalgia.
    "You have been able to get together, measure yourselves with the growing international dimension, without fear of markets that were previously unknown and in which, today, Italian products are leaders.," said the Italian president.
    "The future is not built by living on nostalgia.
    "It would also apply to gratuitous temptations of food nostalgia: today foods are certainly healthier and more controlled than in the past". (ANSA).