Overview

• President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held discussions on US-EU trade, with Trump stating he is '100%' confident a deal will be reached within the 90-day tariff suspension period.
• Meloni, seen as a bridge between the US and EU, advocated for a 'zero-for-zero' tariff formula to eliminate reciprocal duties on industrial goods.
• Concerns persist among EU allies that Meloni’s bilateral talks with Trump could undermine collective EU bargaining power, though her outreach was coordinated with Brussels.
• Trump reiterated demands for NATO allies to increase defense spending, pressing Italy to raise its contributions from the current 1.49% of GDP toward the 2% benchmark.
• Meanwhile in Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff engaged European leaders on Ukraine ceasefire efforts and Iran nuclear talks, with further discussions planned in London.