Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni heads to Washington on Thursday to meet with Donald Trump, hoping a personal charm offensive can help convince the US president to cut a more favourable deal on EU tariffs.<\/p>\n
The far-right Meloni — described by Trump as a “fantastic leader” and who shares many of his conservative views — has looked to maintain ties with the mercurial leader despite the widespread disruption caused by his tariff policies.<\/p>\n
Still, she has criticised as “wrong” his 20 percent duties on exports from the European Union, which he later suspended for 90 days.<\/p>\n
Since Trump’s trade war with the bloc began, Meloni has urged Brussels not to retaliate, calling for cool heads while casting herself as the only EU leader to potentially de-escalate the conflict through her personal relationship with the US president.<\/p>\n
Her meeting with Trump at the White House does not come without risk, however.<\/p>\n
Italian newspapers on Wednesday floated the possibility that Meloni could end up in a trap similar to the White House meeting in February with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Trump and his Vice President JD Vance berated his guest in front of reporters.<\/p>\n
Meloni has been a staunch ally of Ukraine and Zelensky since Russia’s invasion of the country in 2022, most recently calling Moscow’s Palm Sunday attack on the city of Sumy “horrible and vile”.<\/p>\n
The only EU leader to be invited to Trump’s inauguration in January, Meloni has acknowledged the uncertainty weighing on her quick visit.<\/p>\n
“We know we’re going through a difficult period, let’s see how it goes in the coming hours. I don’t feel any pressure, as you can imagine, for my next two days, let’s say,” she joked at an awards ceremony for Italian goods Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“Surely I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I am defending,” she added.<\/p>\n
– ‘Need to talk’ –<\/p>\n
Meloni has said the goal should be to eliminate so-called reciprocal duties on existing industrial products as part of a “zero for zero” formula, as floated by the European Commission earlier this month.<\/p>\n
“We absolutely must avoid a tariff war,” Italy’s Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told reporters Tuesday, saying Meloni would seek in Washington to “convince everyone we need to talk”.<\/p>\n
Meloni’s decision to personally intercede with Trump has caused some disquiet among EU allies, concerned her visit could undermine the unity of the bloc.<\/p>\n
“If we start having bilateral discussions, obviously it will break the current dynamic,” France’s industry minister, Marc Ferracci, warned last week, saying “Europe is only strong if it is united”.<\/p>\n
A French government spokeswoman said later, however, that all voices that helped encourage dialogue with the United States were welcome.<\/p>\n
A European Commission spokeswoman had a similar line on Monday, noting that while the EU alone could negotiate trade agreements, Meloni’s “outreach is very welcome”.<\/p>\n
Her meeting was “closely coordinated” with the EU, the spokeswoman said, noting that Meloni and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen have been “in regular contact”.<\/p>\n
Following Thursday’s meeting with Trump, Meloni will fly back to Rome on Friday in time to host JD Vance, with whom she has a meeting planned.<\/p>\n
Trump’s threatened tariffs could have a major impact on Italy, the world’s fourth-largest exporter, which sends around 10 percent of its exports to the United States.<\/p>\n
During her meeting, Meloni is also likely to discuss with Trump his demands for NATO allies to spend more on defence.<\/p>\n
Trump wants the current target raised from two to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP), a huge demand for debt-laden Italy, which currently spends around 1.5 percent.<\/p>\n
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