Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday. She is expected to bring a personal appeal for the low punitive tariffs on European Union trade with the world’s largest economy.
Meloni is the first transatlantic leader to sit with Trump since announcing a 20% tariff on European exports.
AFP Report Meloni is described by Trump as a “fantastic leader” who also aligns with his conservative views, but Trump has worked hard to keep his communication channels open as he tries to remake his deal with the EU through tariff fluctuations.
Meloni is urging Brussels to embrace trade talks pragmatism and seeking a cool head while casting himself as the only EU leader to potentially eliminate conflict through personal relationships with the Republican president, AFP said.
The Italian prime minister, the only EU leader to be invited to Trump’s inauguration in January, acknowledged the weight of the uncertainty in her quick visit.
“We know we’re going through difficult times, and let’s see how it will go in the next few hours. As you can imagine for the next two days, I don’t feel any pressure.
“I certainly know I represent and I know I defend,” she added.
After a meeting with Trump on Thursday, Meloni will return to Rome on Friday to host JD Vance, and plans to meet, AFP report concludes.
Currently, annual transactions between the EU and the US I’m standing Approximately 1.6 trillion euros (1.8 trillion dollars).
