Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he is not in a hurry to make new trade deals because his tariffs are bringing in revenue. While speaking during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he added that reaching a deal with the European Union (EU) would be easy, but it would happen “at a certain point.”
Trump believes he has leverage, as other countries want access to American consumers. However, his meeting with Meloni came at a sensitive time — she is the first European leader to meet Trump face-to-face since he announced 20% tariffs on EU products, which he later paused for 90 days to allow talks.
Meloni is under pressure, as she is seen as a key link between the EU and the U.S. She acknowledged the challenge, saying, “I know what I represent and what I’m defending.” The EU is trying to protect what it calls the world’s most important trade relationship, worth €1.6 trillion (about $1.8 trillion) every year.
The European Commission, not individual countries like Italy, is in charge of EU trade policy. It is pushing for a zero-tariff deal with the U.S. But Trump’s administration has not backed down from its 10% base tariff, and has raised tariffs on China to 145%, while keeping tariffs on steel, autos, and other goods from various countries.
Meloni’s goals during the meeting are more about understanding Trump’s plans than securing major concessions. Experts say she has a lot to manage, especially because Trump often prefers informal talks, which can feel like unofficial negotiations.
Although Meloni and Trump share similar views on issues like migration and skepticism of global organizations, they disagree on support for Ukraine. Meloni is firmly behind Ukraine, while Trump has criticized the U.S. role in the conflict. Trump also wants Italy to increase its military spending, which is currently only 1.49% of GDP — below NATO’s 2% target.
Meloni’s visit also focuses on Italy’s strong trade ties with the U.S., including a €40 billion trade surplus, thanks to popular Italian exports like cheese, ham, and luxury fashion. Experts say she may also suggest buying more U.S. gas as part of a stronger economic relationship.
The meeting happened at a time of growing global economic uncertainty, with Italy already cutting its growth forecast in half due to the trade tensions. Meanwhile, Trump also met with Japan’s trade negotiator, claiming “Big progress!” though he gave no details.
In the bigger picture, Trump says his tariffs will protect American jobs, but China is now working on its own deals, which may challenge that claim.
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