Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Tuesday that Europe may need to impose additional taxes or tariffs to counter a surge of Chinese goods flooding international markets through e-commerce platforms, warning of growing imbalances in global trade.
Speaking at the general assembly of the Hellenic Association of Retail Businesses (SELPE) alongside its president, Kostas Gerardos, Mr. Mitsotakis said China's dominance as a trade superpower is channeling an enormous volume of products into global markets, and that Europe is examining measures to ensure a level playing field — an issue he said could feature during Greece's upcoming EU presidency. He added that Chinese carmakers pose similarly intense competition for European manufacturers, predicting the EU will move toward measured regulatory tightening to give European firms time to adapt, while still preserving consumers' right to seek the cheapest products.
Mr. Mitsotakis said boosting household disposable income and closing Greece's income gap with the European average remain the government's central goals, noting the country has already closed roughly two-thirds of that gap since the debt crisis while maintaining fiscal stability.
Addressing artificial intelligence, Mr. Mitsotakis acknowledged legitimate concerns about job losses, particularly in physical retail, but argued AI should serve as a productivity tool rather than a replacement for human interaction — invoking the concept of "retail politics," where he said trust and direct engagement with citizens remain irreplaceable, just as in retail business. He said AI integration in public services like gov.gr, health care and civil protection would soon show visible results, while acknowledging the technology raises practical and philosophical questions governments must manage carefully to avoid social tension.