Overview
- President Donald Trump reposted a video by activist Lynne Patton claiming Giorgia Meloni would break with the European Union, seek a direct tariff deal with Washington, and cut Italian support for Ukraine.
- Palazzo Chigi stated that trade negotiations fall under exclusive EU competence and said bilateral discussions concern U.S. antidumping actions on Italian pasta and are conducted alongside the European Commission.
- Vice premier and foreign minister Antonio Tajani affirmed work in step with the EU and Commissioner Maros Sefcovic while acknowledging ongoing communication with U.S. counterparts.
- Opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, Five Star Movement, and Greens/Left, demanded that Meloni provide a parliamentary explanation and publicly deny the claims amplified by Trump.
- Reports indicate the U.S. Commerce Department found weighted-average dumping margins of 91.74% for some Italian pasta exporters such as Garofalo and La Molisana, with any steep additional duties still subject to U.S. procedures and potential appeals.