Italy's PM Meloni gears up for key Trump talks to tackle EU-US tariff war

Giorgia Meloni is gearing up for her highly anticipated bilateral meeting with former US President Donald Trump on April 16, with Italy hoping to reduce "reciprocal" tariffs that are currently in place between the EU and the US.

Although no formal mandate has been given, there are growing expectations from the European Commission that the meeting will result in a positive outcome, with Meloni positioned as a key intermediary in facilitating dialogue between the two powers, Caliber.Az reports via Italian media.

The proposal on the table is to return to zero tariffs—a suggestion likely to be dismissed by Trump for the time being. However, the more attainable goal is to negotiate a 10% reduction in tariffs for both sides.

The Italian government is optimistic that Meloni’s established rapport with Trump could prove crucial in the negotiations, as she is the only European leader with a close relationship to the US President.

Recent discussions between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and US counterpart Howard Lutnick were described as "mostly positive, but inconclusive." Šefčovič has publicly expressed hope that leaders with strong ties to the US will help facilitate the process. Meloni's upcoming talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen may further align the EU’s strategy ahead of the Washington summit.

Back home, Meloni will hold a meeting with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, though concerns that she might seek bilateral deals outside the EU framework—especially for specific sectors like agri-food—are not considered likely. The Italian government remains committed to a unified EU position, as reiterated by Tajani, who emphasised that trade matters fall under the Commission's competence within the single market.

In parallel, the Italian government continues to resist tougher counter-tariff measures, with Italy at the forefront of efforts to avoid escalation in the trade war. Meanwhile, Meloni’s task force—created to address the economic impacts of tariffs on Italy—will continue its work, focusing on mitigating damage sector by sector and seeking alternative solutions for boosting Italian exports beyond the US.

Additionally, the task force is exploring ways to ease Italy's compliance with the EU’s Green Deal, which Meloni has identified as a "real tariff" burden on key industries like automotive.

In a video message to the Lega Congress, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s stance on the trade dispute with the US, emphasising the need for negotiations and economic measures to support Italian businesses. She also reiterated her call for the EU to revise its Green Deal regulations, which she describes as “internal tariffs” that unnecessarily add to external trade barriers.

As Meloni focuses on her diplomatic efforts, domestic politics are also heating up. The debate over the European rearmament plan is expected to resurface in Parliament this week, with divisions within the coalition becoming increasingly evident. The Five Star Movement’s motion opposing the von der Leyen plan is scheduled for debate on Tuesday, with the ruling majority preparing a unified response.

By Aghakazim Guliyev