Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Washington on Thursday 17 April may give Europeans renewed hope. At their meeting, both the Italian leader and US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the EU and the US would reach a deal to avoid tariffs. “I’m sure we can make a deal, and I’m here to help with that” Giorgia Meloni told reporters before her lunch with the US President.
Trump said he is “100% sure” that the two parties could reach an agreement. However, any such deal will have to be “fair”, he added.
A US administration official quoted by AFP was also confident on Thursday 17 April. “We’re open, we’re available, we’re ready to make deals with countries that take this seriously. So hopefully Italy and the EU are part of that”, he declared.
The European Commission is continuing its technical efforts with Washington to find common ground before the end of the 90-day tariff truce (see EUROPE 13622/2). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)