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Meloni meets Trump at the White House: tariffs at the heart of the talks

Key meeting in Washington between the Italian Prime Minister and US President: focus on trade tensions, NATO spending, and the challenge posed by China

The long-awaited face-to-face between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump takes place today. At 6:00 PM Italian time, Meloni will cross the threshold of the White House—becoming the first European leader to do so since Trump launched his tariff offensive on 2 April, coinciding with “Liberation Day”.

“Every country wants to meet us! Today, it’s Italy,” Trump posted on Truth Social just hours before the meeting. The President also noted a “very productive call” with the President of Mexico and talks with senior Japanese trade representatives.

Meloni’s primary goal, as reiterated in recent weeks, is to avert a trade war between the United States and the European Union while promoting a direct line of dialogue between Washington and Brussels. Her approach has been closely coordinated with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with whom she remains in frequent contact.

At the centre of the summit is the issue of reciprocal tariffs imposed by Trump on the EU—currently suspended for 90 days. Sources indicate that the US has already rejected a European proposal offering “zero tariffs” on cars and advanced manufacturing in exchange for increased purchases of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) and military equipment.

A complex and fast-evolving phase

“We are going through a phase that is both highly complex and rapidly evolving,” Meloni stated in a message to the Grana Padano Consortium yesterday. Her words underscore the urgency not only of addressing trade frictions but also of tackling broader geopolitical shifts, which will also be part of the discussion with Trump.

Alongside trade, the agenda will include the Middle East and Ukraine. Meloni may revive one of her longstanding proposals: to extend NATO’s Article 5 security guarantees to Kyiv.

Also on the table is the issue of defence spending. Trump is pressing NATO allies to raise their military budgets to 5% of GDP—a level Italy cannot realistically meet due to its high public debt. The Italian government considers the 2% threshold both credible and sustainable, particularly following the recent credit rating upgrade to BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s.

The shadow of China and geopolitical crossroads

While not physically present, China will loom large over the Meloni-Trump talks. The United States has maintained—and even raised—tariffs on Chinese goods, in some cases up to 145%. Trump’s broader goal appears to be reducing Beijing’s global influence, even at the cost of pressuring Europe to choose sides.

“This is not just about balancing trade with Europe,” said Nicola Procaccini, MEP for Brothers of Italy and co-president of the European Conservatives and Reformists group. “It’s about containing China’s rise, which has come at the expense of American influence.”

“For our national and economic interest, we must make the right choice,” he added. “The American market is open, the Chinese one is closed. Replacing one with the other is pure fantasy.”

As tensions escalate, Italy finds itself in a pivotal position—seeking to mediate between two giants in a global trade dispute, aware that the decisions made today could shape economic and strategic balances for years to come.

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