WASHINGTON — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, marking her as the first European leader to engage in direct talks with him since he announced and then suspended 20% tariffs on European exports.
Meloni’s meeting is not only significant as Italy’s leader but also positions her as a representative of the European Union during a critical time in the ongoing trade war.
Before her trip, Meloni was in close contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, indicating that her outreach efforts were closely coordinated with the EU, according to a commission spokeswoman.
“We know we are in a difficult moment,” Meloni stated this week in Rome.
“Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent, and what I am defending.”
The EU is defending what it describes as “the most important commercial relationship in the world,” with annual trade valued at 1.6 trillion euros ($1.8 trillion).
Trade negotiations fall under the commission’s authority, which is advocating for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement with Washington.
However, Trump administration officials, in their discussions with the EU, have yet to publicly indicate any willingness to ease the president’s firm stance on a baseline 10% tariff for all foreign imports.
Although Trump briefly paused a 90-day retaliatory increase to 20%, the situation has fostered some optimism for negotiations.
Experts suggest that Meloni’s potential to make progress lies more in clarifying the Republican president’s goals rather than in obtaining immediate concessions.
Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center think tank in Brussels, commented, “It is a very delicate mission.
There is the whole trade agenda, and while she’s not officially negotiating, we know that Trump likes to engage in informal exchanges which essentially function as negotiations.
So it’s quite a lot on her plate.”
As a leader of a far-right party, Meloni shares ideological alignment with Trump on various issues such as curbing migration, promoting traditional values, and skepticism toward multilateral institutions.
However, significant differences have surfaced concerning Meloni’s staunch support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The two leaders are anticipated to discuss the ongoing conflict and Italy’s prospective role in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
Trump is also expected to urge Meloni to increase Italy’s defense spending, which in the previous year fell short of the NATO alliance’s 2% of GDP target.
Italy’s defense spending remains at 1.49% of GDP, one of the lowest in Europe.
Despite the distinctions regarding Ukraine and defense expenditures, some U.S. administration officials view Meloni as a crucial bridge to Europe during this challenging phase for trans-Atlantic relations.
According to a senior administration official, Trump aims to confer with Meloni not only on how to “open up Italy’s marketplace” but also on how Italy can assist Washington with the rest of Europe.
The official spoke to reporters under anonymity as per White House regulations.
After being the only European leader to participate in Trump’s inauguration on January 20, Meloni has exhibited measured responsiveness to the abrupt shifts in U.S. policy that have strained U.S.-European collaboration.
She has labeled the tariffs as “wrong” and cautioned that “dividing the West would be disastrous for everyone,” following Trump’s heated discussions with Ukraine’s president in the White House.
Wolfango Piccoli, an analyst at the London-based Teneo consultancy, noted, “She has been very cautious.
It is precisely what we need when confronting a counterpart that changes every day.”
Italy currently holds a 40 billion euro ($45 billion) trade surplus with the United States, its largest with any nation, energized by American demand for Italian sparkling wine, delicacies like Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Parma ham, as well as Italian luxury fashion.
These sectors are essential to the Italian economy and are mainly backed by small- and medium-sized producers who represent core center-right voters.
Antonio Villafranca, vice president of the ISPI think tank in Milan, remarked, “Overall, I believe she will concentrate on the robust economic and trade relations that Italy maintains with the United States, not only with regard to exports but also services and energy.
For instance, Italy might even consider importing more gas from the U.S.”
The meeting emerges amid escalating concerns over global uncertainty fueled by increasing tariff conflicts.
Italy’s growth forecast for this year has already been reduced from 1% to 0.5% due to these factors.
Experts have advised caution against raising expectations for substantial progress during the discussions.
According to Piccoli, “The best strategy has been to proceed with circumspection: Get there, have the meeting, obtain the photo opportunity.
If she can return with insights on how Washington wishes to structure future relations regarding trade, defense, and Ukraine policy, that would constitute a significant accomplishment.”
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