Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday. This Producer Meeting is an important milestone in transatlantic relations on both sides of the Atlantic. This meeting will be an important test of Meloni’s mettle. She is the first European leader to meet Trump since Trump announced new tariffs on European imports this month. The European Union (EU) has been following this meeting particularly intently. They are looking to Meloni to generate the necessary momentum to address a range of persistent and contentious trade issues.
Trump’s decision to implement a 20% “reciprocal” tariff on all imported goods from the EU has raised concerns across Europe. She has condemned the tariffs publicly as “wrong,” and she leads the right-wing populist Brothers of Italy party. At the same time, she has been pushing her European counterparts to the negotiating table. A trade war would be harmful to Americans and Canadians alike, and she’s determined to avert that catastrophe.
In early April, as all of this unfolded, Trump announced the tariffs — and the EU quickly began preparing to retaliate with their own tariffs. In a bizarre concession considering the above, last week Trump reduced that tariff rate to 10% for 90 days. This small but significant change provides the opportunity for real negotiations to start. In retaliation, the EU stopped implementation of its own proposed 25% tariff on approximately €21 billion worth of U.S. exports. This move is an encouraging sign that they are willing to continue the dialogue.
Meloni’s visit comes at a crucial time. According to U.S. trade statistics, Rome posted a $43.9 billion bilateral trade surplus with the U.S. in 2024. This is a reminder of how crucial the American market is to Italian exports, which have increased by 17% this year. Meloni emphasized the significance of this relationship, stating, “It must be remembered that the United States is the second-largest destination market… The U.S. market is fundamental for us.”
The EU has big expectations for Meloni’s leadership in these negotiations. Some analysts think she has a chance of becoming a “Trump whisperer.” Her sway could help ease the new U.S. leader’s approach on trade with Europe. This visit carries risks. Wolfango Piccoli, an expert on Italian politics, noted that “one of the major challenges of this visit will be demonstrating that Meloni is acting as a mediator on behalf of the entire EU, not just in defense of Italian interests.”
Piccoli highlighted the economic implications of the tariffs on Italy’s economy, stating, “Such scenarios could impact Italy’s public finances significantly.” For Italy, he figured that tariffs would reduce the value of Italian exports by 0.3% to 0.5% of GDP. However, he believes the real effect could be less due to the fact that most Italian products are high-end.
Even against these challenges, Meloni is hopeful for her continued impact on creating and maintaining good relations between the two countries. She stated, “The tariffs are wrong and not in the interest of either party,” reflecting her commitment to finding a resolution that benefits both Europe and the United States.