Italian PM Giorgia Meloni will travel to Washington on 17 April for talks with US President Donald Trump. The meeting aims to address US tariffs on EU imports and prevent a possible trade war.
Meloni made the announcement on Tuesday during a meeting with business leaders in Rome. She said she would propose “the possibility of eliminating reciprocal tariffs on existing industrial products with the ‘zero for zero’ formula.”
She was joined by deputy premiers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, along with senior ministers including Giancarlo Giorgetti (economy) and Adolfo Urso (business). Francesco Lollobrigida (agriculture) and Tommaso Foti (European affairs) also attended.
A statement from Palazzo Chigi said business representatives had “ample space” to present their proposals. The statement added that there was “a shared awareness that we are facing a complex challenge, which requires the active and responsible participation of all those involved.”
Last week, Meloni criticised Trump’s 20 per cent import tariffs on EU goods, calling them “wrong.” She said the move “does not benefit either side” but warned against “alarmism” over the issue.
On Tuesday she repeated her criticism, stating: “The economies of Western nations are strongly interconnected. Such incisive protectionist policies will end up damaging Europe as much as the United States.”
Italian support for businesses
Meloni also confirmed that her government had identified €25 billion to support Italian businesses. Of this, €14 billion comes from the EU’s pandemic recovery fund (PNRR) and €11 billion from the EU Cohesion Fund, according to ANSA.
She urged Italian employers, trade unions, and the “world of Made in Italy” to unite in response to the economic challenge.
Sources told reporters that Meloni and her team plan to propose the removal of tariffs between the EU and the US. The Italian government has not officially commented on the plan.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has discussed the trip with Meloni and is aware of her plans. An official confirmed they are coordinating how best to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Rome around Easter. If Meloni meets both Trump and Vance, it would mark a significant diplomatic moment. However, it also carries the risk of returning without concrete results.
The stakes for Italy are high. Ten per cent of its exports go to the US, with key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and food and wine directly affected.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy may consider delaying EU countermeasures if it helps progress negotiations. Although Meloni has denounced the tariffs, she insists that calm dialogue is the best approach.
