Italy’s Giorgia Meloni Set to Meet Trump During Trade Dispute with Europe

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday amid escalating tensions with the European Union over tariffs.

Her trip to Washington marks her as the first European leader to engage with Trump since he announced tariffs on European imports earlier this month.

Trump has expressed admiration for Meloni, who leads the right-wing populist Brothers of Italy party, which has gained traction alongside a rise of similar populist movements in Europe. When they met in January, he referred to her as a “fantastic woman” who is “really taking Europe by storm.”

However, the strength of their connection—and Meloni’s diplomatic abilities—will face a significant challenge on Thursday as they convene amid growing fears of a potential trade war between the U.S. and the EU.

Earlier in April, Trump proposed a 20% “reciprocal” tariff on all imported goods from the EU as a component of his expansive trade tariffs policy. He has since reduced this to 10% for a 90-day period to allow for negotiations aimed at reaching a trade agreement.

In response, the EU has suspended its planned 25% tariffs on $23.8 billion worth of U.S. exports. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated last week that the EU is willing to “give negotiations a chance,” but warned that if discussions are unsatisfactory, countermeasures will be implemented.

The EU is closely observing Meloni’s meeting with Trump, hoping she can facilitate negotiations that lead to a compromise addressing what Trump deems an unfair trading relationship, largely due to the EU’s ongoing trade surplus with the U.S.

Meloni is often seen as a “Trump whisperer,” believed to have the ability to soften the U.S. leader’s stance on trade matters regarding the EU. She earned this title after a notably enjoyable five-hour meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in January. She is also expected to meet with Vice President J.D. Vance in Rome on April 18.

According to Wolfango Piccoli, co-president at risk consultancy Teneo, Thursday’s meeting “represents a key opportunity for her to demonstrate both her closeness to President Donald Trump and her potential role as a credible interlocutor capable of revitalizing transatlantic dialogue.”

However, concerns are rising that the visit could backfire, particularly given Trump’s recent interactions with foreign leaders. Piccoli noted that a significant challenge for Meloni will be to position herself as a mediator representing the entire EU rather than solely advocating for Italian interests.

Italy, which is export-oriented and the third-largest economy in the euro zone, stands to gain significantly from an EU-U.S. trade agreement, as it aims to maintain access to a lucrative market for its key exports to the United States, including machinery, medical products, cars, clothing, and food. However, the Trump administration faces a challenge, as Italy recorded a trade surplus of $43.9 billion with the U.S. in 2024, according to U.S. data.

Upon the announcement of Trump’s 20% tariffs on EU imports, Meloni was one of several leaders expressing disappointment, calling the decision “wrong” and urging her European colleagues to prevent a trade war.

“The tariffs are wrong and not in the interest of either party,” Meloni stated, emphasizing Italy’s commitment to “working toward an agreement with the U.S. to avoid a trade war, which would ultimately weaken the West against other global competitors.”

She also cautioned that Italian food and drink exports could suffer significantly from tariffs, highlighting that “Italian agri-food products are in high demand worldwide, particularly in Europe.”

“It is important to note that the United States is our second-largest destination market, with a 17% increase in exports recorded in 2024. The U.S. market is vital for us.”

Piccoli from Teneo added that Meloni’s measured response to U.S. tariffs stems from her understanding that the most significant risks to Italy’s economy do not lie solely in the tariffs themselves, especially as they are currently at a reduced rate, “but in the potential fallout of a full-scale trade war involving retaliatory tariffs or a U.S. withdrawal from European defense efforts.”

“Such scenarios could have serious implications for Italy’s public finances. Current estimates suggest that the tariffs could decrease Italian exports by 0.3% to 0.5% of GDP, although the actual impact may be limited due to the low pass-through effect; many Italian exports are premium or niche products, making them difficult to substitute in the short term,” he noted.