On April 17, a meeting will take place at the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where an important issue concerning trade tariffs between the EU and the U.S. will be discussed.
European leaders have high hopes for this meeting, as it could lead to a resolution of the trade conflict. However, for the negotiations to be successful, Trump needs to receive a proposal from Europe that he can present to his citizens as a victory.
Currently, Brussels is considering offering the U.S. increased purchases of weapons and gas, which could serve as the basis for a deal. According to Corriere della Sera, Italy and Germany are ready to participate in this agreement.
The planned purchases of American weapons under the EU’s Readiness 2030 rearmament program may signal a shift away from supporting the European defense industry. If no objections arise from France, Meloni could propose this deal to Trump. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has already headed to Washington to discuss ways to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with the European Union.
Additionally, Giorgia Meloni has stated that she intends to address the issue of China during her talks with Trump. She aims to avoid the formation of an EU-China alliance in the context of the customs conflict with the U.S., hoping for a swift agreement with Washington. Meloni’s main goal is to achieve a “zero-zero” solution — the cancellation of tariffs on both sides of the Atlantic.
