Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that government cannot abdicate from the obligation of reassuring investors, workers and businesses who export and import between Malta and the United States, following tariff statements made by US President Donald Trump.

In an interview on Sunday, Grech said he recognised that there is an element of waiting, uncertainty, and cautiousness on the situation, as within days, President Trump announced a raft of punishing tariffs to several nations across the world and then paused them.

Grech, however, said that it is worrying that Prime Minister Robert Abela has chosen not to speak about this issue and is failing to provide the necessary reassurance to Maltese importers and exporters.

Grech insisted that the Prime Minister cannot abdicate this responsibility and must offer peace of mind to Maltese investors.

"Those investors, the workers in large companies who export and import from the US, need some certainty. That is why, despite it being difficult, I took a strong position and pushed government to do the same," Grech said.

He said that government is obliged to reassure businesses, after taking expert advice, as the tariffs will have a global effect.

Grech said that while government must closely follow these developments, it must take a position and provide safeguards and peace of mind to those affected.

Grech also spoke about the many shortcomings in the government's recently announced Vision 2050 document, which he said fails to address the expected population growth in the coming years.

He said that the country needs a long-term vision focused on quality rather than quantity.

He said that while the vision for where the country should be taken is positive, government needs politicians who have the political will and maturity to make the decisions it needs to make.

"The document has major shortcomings, government is not admitting on paper that it will increase the population, meaning it is not being honest on how it will implement this vision," Grech said.

He spoke of government's U-turn to reverse the decision to increase the years in which a vintage vehicle can be registered, which showed that government "does not even believe in its decisions. It promises these visions, but does not implement them."

Grech said there is the need for a clear and honest plan for the education sector, as the several changes of Ministers has left a negative impact on the sector.

"In reality, government will continue to turn towards a quantity over quality economic model," Grech said.

On the tendering process for the expansion of the emergency department and the construction of an acute mental health hospital, the Opposition will insist that public funds are properly spent and will not allow the Maltese and Gozitan people to be robbed again, as had happened with the hospitals deal, Grech said.

Grech said that the PN is following the recent developments in the tendering process and noted that while the only submitted bid was double the government's estimate, others who tried to submit a bid were unable to do so because the system did not allow it.

Grech said that all workers have invaluable worth and deserve a good quality of life, and the PN will be holding an activity on Workers' Day on 1 May.

Grech spoke about his visits to several workplaces and explained how during these visits, he learns from workers about the challenges and opportunities in today's job market.

He also spoke of the PN's proposals aimed at supporting business owners, importers, and exporters, including through tax reductions and an aid fund to help them face the challenges ahead.

Speaking about government's transport proposals, the PN Leader recalled how government initially ridiculed the trackless tram proposal put forward by the Nationalist Party, yet today the Labour government is presenting the same proposal.

Grech said that while government keeps creating one vision after another, it lacks the political will to implement them.

This, he said, is evident from the number of proposals that have been shelved, including the bridge between Malta and Gozo, the fourth ferry, the metro, the mental health hospital, and the hospital in Gozo.