Overview

• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on April 17 to discuss US tariffs on EU goods.
• Meloni has criticized Trump’s tariff policies, calling them a mistake, while emphasizing the need for negotiations to prevent a trade conflict.
• The Italian leader is expected to propose eliminating tariffs between the EU and the US, according to reports, though this remains unconfirmed.
• EU member states are preparing retaliatory tariffs, with a vote on countermeasures expected this week, raising concerns about escalating trade tensions.
• Meloni continues to position herself as a diplomatic bridge between Washington and Brussels, balancing her ideological ties with Trump and Italy’s export-driven economy.