WASHINGTON/ROME, April 17 – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, becoming the first European leader to hold face-to-face talks with him since he imposed – and later suspended – steep tariffs on European goods.
The high-stakes meeting comes amid rising transatlantic tensions over trade, with Meloni seeking to gauge Trump’s intentions following his announcement of a 20% tariff on European exports, which was paused for 90 days. While trade negotiations fall under the remit of the European Commission, Meloni has been in close contact with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of her U.S. visit. “We know we are in a difficult moment,” Meloni said in Rome earlier this week. “Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent, and what I am defending.”
The European Union, which has described the transatlantic relationship as “the most important commercial relationship in the world,” is pushing for a zero-for-zero tariff deal. However, Trump has so far stood firm on a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, despite temporarily pausing his proposed 20% increase.
Meloni, who leads Italy’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, is ideologically aligned with Trump on several issues, including immigration and skepticism of multilateralism. However, the two have diverged on Ukraine, with Meloni maintaining strong support for Kyiv.
Analysts say the Italian leader’s mission is not about securing major concessions but understanding the Trump administration’s trajectory on key issues. “It is a very delicate mission,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center. “Even if not officially negotiating, Trump likes informal exchanges that resemble negotiations.”
Italy, which maintains a €40 billion trade surplus with the U.S., is particularly vulnerable to tariffs on food and luxury goods. Italian exports such as sparkling wine, Parmigiano Reggiano, and designer fashion are driven by small- and medium-sized enterprises that form a key political constituency for Meloni.
“All in all, I think she will focus on the very strong economic and trade relations that Italy has with the United States,” said Antonio Villafranca, vice president at the ISPI think tank. He added that energy cooperation, such as increased U.S. gas imports, may also be on the agenda.
The meeting comes as Italy’s growth forecast has been cut to 0.5% for 2025 from an earlier 1%, with trade frictions cited as a major factor. Meloni is also expected to address NATO spending, where Italy remains below the 2% GDP target demanded by Trump.
While few expect concrete policy outcomes, experts suggest a successful meeting could still yield important diplomatic dividends. “If she is able to come back and give a sense of how Washington wants to frame future relations on trade, defense and Ukraine, that would be a huge win,” said Wolfango Piccoli of Teneo consultancy.
