Washington (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – United States President Donald Trump said “there will be a deal 100%, but it will be a fair deal,” whereas Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed that she ‘was’ on their ability to come to an agreement.
The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Washington to talk to United States President Donald Trump about the trade deal between Europe and the US. Meloni is the first European leader who visited Washington since US president Trump imposed a 20% trade tariff on imports from Europe, which he has suspended for 90 days.
According to media reports, Meloni has positioned herself as the only European capable of de-escalating Trump’s trade war, emphasizing their conservative shared values, expressing her desire to “make the West great again.”
The two leaders maintained a friendly atmosphere during their lunch meeting and their discussion in the Oval Office, with Trump praising the Italian Prime Minister Meloni as “fantastic.”
Did Meloni succeed in US-EU Trade tension?
Trump and Meloni maintain a positive relationship, with the Italian leader aiming to serve as a link between the EU and the US, especially given the strained relations and growing worries about the worldwide consequences of Trump’s tariffs.
She aimed to represent the U.S. and Europe as inherent partners within Western civilization and emphasized the need to “discuss and resolve” issues related to trade and national security.
“My objective is to make the West great again,” Meloni expressed to Trump.
The environment in the Oval Office seemed calm and cheerful, although she didn’t achieve any concrete victories regarding tariffs at the meeting, but she successfully persuaded Trump to agree to an invitation to come to Rome, which she stated would provide him an opportunity to meet with other European leaders.
What Position Trump is Holding on Tariffs?
Although he is optimistic about reaching a deal eventually, Trump remarked that he is in ‘no hurry.’ He said, ‘everyone eager to make a deal, and if they don’t want to reach an agreement, we will make the deals on their behalf,’ further mentioning that He anticipates finalizing agreements with all nations ‘within the next three to four weeks.’
Trump claims that the European Union was “formed to screw the United States” and has been openly critical of it on trade. The US President also indicated that he is hesitant to further increase tariffs on China, which are currently at 145%.
Following their meeting, Trump informed the media that discussions regarding trade were less complex than negotiations on mergers. “I might not aim to raise the stakes. I might prefer to lower them because, you see, you want consumers to make purchases, and eventually, there comes a time when they won’t,” he stated to reporters at the White House.
Meloni’s officials described the trip as a “commercial peace mission” in response to Trump’s decision to put a 10% baseline tax on practically all international imports into the United States.
After their meeting, Meloni is scheduled to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Rome, strengthening her position as an important player in U.S.-European relations. This meeting is intended to boost her credibility as a bridge between the United States and the European Union, particularly given the ongoing trade and defense conversations.
