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Trump and Meloni Agree to 90-Day Tariff Pause, Express Optimism for EU Trade Deal

Italy's Giorgia Meloni becomes the first EU leader to meet Trump since his tariff announcement, leveraging shared ideology to mediate negotiations.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy, April 18, 2025. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS
Image
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance and their children Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel attend the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday as part of the Holy Week celebrations, at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. Vice President JD Vance walk, as they meet at Chigi Palace, in Rome, Italy, April 18, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Overview

  • President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Washington on April 17, securing a 90-day suspension of U.S. tariffs on EU exports to allow for further trade negotiations.
  • Trump expressed confidence in reaching a trade deal with the EU before the 90-day pause ends, stating he was '100 percent' sure of an agreement.
  • Meloni invited Trump to visit Rome for further discussions, including potential talks with other EU leaders, an invitation he accepted without setting a date.
  • European leaders remain divided, with some warning that Meloni's bilateral talks could undermine EU unity, though the European Commission stated her outreach was coordinated with Brussels.
  • Italy's €40 billion trade surplus with the U.S. underscores its high stakes in resolving the tariff dispute, with Meloni positioning herself as a bridge between the EU and the U.S.