“My goal is to invite President Trump to make an official visit to Italy and try to organize such a meeting with Europe if possible,” added Giorgia Meloni.
In the midst of a trade war, the European Central Bank (ECB) has just agreed for a drop of 0.25 point of guiding rates to strengthen the economy of the euro zone.
Its president Chritine Lagarde said Thursday that the ECB should “face the unpredictable” and to be “agile” in the face of the uncertain economic context.
“Very special relationship”
Relations between Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump, who share a large ideological base, are known to be very good. The Prime Minister, described as “fantastic leader” by the Republican, had been the sole leader of the EU to have been invited in January to her inauguration.
Stressing this “very special relationship”, senior American officials estimated that Ms. Meloni could serve as an intermediary for an agreement between Europe and the United States.
“We hope that the Prime Minister and the President will be able to get things done,” Trump administration official for journalists told the meeting.
Donald Trump paves customs duties on certain minerals and electronic objects
“We are open, we are available, we are ready to conclude agreements with countries that take this seriously. We hope that Italy and the EU will be part of it,” he added.
President Donald Trump has set up customs duties of at least 10% on all the products entering the United States, in force since April 5, and up to 145% on Chinese products, beyond existing taxes before returning to the White House.
Dependent on the exports of her industry, which weighs almost a quarter of her GDP, Ms. Meloni criticized this price offensive while playing the dialogue and urging Brussels not to take retaliatory measures.
“No pressure”
Her step of two and his proximity to Donald Trump, however, worry his European partners, like the French Minister of Industry, Marc Ferracci, who said they feared, at the announcement of Ms. Meloni’s visit to Washington, that she will not go alone.
“I feel no pressure,” joked Ms. Meloni on Tuesday evening on the sidelines of a ceremony in front of business leaders. “I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I defend.”
Italy achieves more than 10% of its exports to the United States, the third trading partner in the peninsula. 10% of Germany exports are also made in the United States, and 7% of French exports.
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“We must absolutely avoid a tariff war,” argued the Minister of Italian industry, Adolfo Urso, adding that Ms. Meloni would seek Washington to “convince everyone of the need to discuss”.
The American president has used customs duties as a full -fledged political tool since his return to power, and particularly used them against China.
But he estimated Thursday, in response to a question, that the two largest world powers were going to conclude “a very good agreement”, without providing more details.
