Trump and Meloni unite for new EU trade talks
- There will be a trade agreement. I expect it - said President Donald Trump on Thursday, referring to trade relations with the European Union. However, he added that he would not rush it. Last week, Trump suspended tariffs on certain countries for 90 days to negotiate new trade terms during this time.
Trump shared his optimism at the beginning of a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who flew to Washington to discuss tariffs on the EU and the war in Ukraine.
Trump noted that there is no urgency regarding the trade talks and the agreement, stressing that any deal would be balanced. He expressed confidence in reaching agreements with Europe and other partners, and also described Meloni as a remarkable individual, according to Bloomberg.
In turn, Giorgia Meloni said that her goal is to invite Trump to Italy and organise talks with representatives of the European Commission.
"Valuable interlocutor" from the EU
The visit by the Italian Prime Minister follows the fruitless talks of the EU Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, in Washington. Giorgia Meloni, who is well-liked by the American President, is to play the role of intermediary between the EU and the USA. At least that was how the situation was presented by the Italian Minister for Enterprise, Adolfo Urso, in an interview with the "New York Times". Urso stated that the head of the government in Rome could count on a "personal relationship" with Trump.
In a similar way, a senior White House official spoke during a press briefing announcing the talks. As he stated, the USA sees Meloni as a "valuable interlocutor" from the EU, who enjoys a "very special relationship" with Trump. The European Commission, which formally has an exclusive role in the EU's trade negotiations with third countries, announced that the visit is "closely coordinated" with Brussels.
Meloni was the only European leader who came to Washington for Trump's inauguration. She had also previously met with him at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. On Friday, the head of the government will host U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in Rome.
Meloni criticised the introduction of tariffs by the USA, and Italy is one of the largest European exporters of goods to America.
Let us recall that on 9 April, Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs of varying rates on individual countries worldwide. The European Union was subjected to 20 per cent tariffs. On the same day, Trump announced that he was suspending tariffs for 90 days, explaining it with nervous market reactions. This time is to be used to negotiate and establish new trade rules between the respective countries.
Meanwhile, the 10 per cent general tariffs, introduced on 5 April on all countries, remain in force.
