He president United States Donald Trump Thursday said that “we are not in a hurry” to reach any agreement commercial because the profits generated by their dutybut at its meeting with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hinted that it would be easy to achieve a agreement with the Union European and other nations.
His government has indicated that he has received offers from other countries and that it is possible to reach 90 Agreements During the 20 -day break to dutybut the president dismissed the probability of accelerating the schedule saying that any agreement It would occur “at a given time.”
“We are not in a hurry,” he said Trump and hinted that it has an advantage because other countries want to have access to consumers Americans.
The meeting of Meloni With Trump he will test his temper as a bridge between the Union European and States Joined. She is the first European leader to hold face to face with the president since she announced and then partially suspended the duty of 20% on European exports.
Meloni It meets with Trump as leader of Italybut has also been “appointed”, in a sense, as a representative of the EU In a critical moment of war commercial that has fueled the fears of a recession.
He was in close contact with the president of the Commission EuropeanUrsula von der Leyen, before the trip, and “the contact is … closely coordinated,” said a spokeswoman for the commission.
The EU defends what he calls “the relationship commercial most important in the world “, with a trade annual that reaches 1.6 billion euros (1.8 billion dollars).
The government of Trump has said that his duty would allow trade negotiations that would exclude Chinathe dominant manufacturer of the world. But the US president argues that rivals and allies have taken advantage of States United in the trade.
Commercial negotiations are under the authority of the Commission of the Union Europeanwhich presses to achieve a agreement of duty zero with Washington.
In conversations with the EUgovernment officials of Trump They have not yet publicly shown signs of giving in the insistence of the president that a 10% base tariff is charged to all foreign imports.
Trump He paused for 90 days his initial tax of 20% to the products of the block so that negotiations could be carried out.
The EU has already interacted with administration officials of Trump in Washington. Maroš šefcovic, the European commissioner for the trade And economic security, he said he met Monday with the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, and with the trade representative of States United, Jamieson Gerer.
Šefcovic later said in X that “an important joint effort of both parties will be required” to obtain duty zero and work in Barriers non -tariff commercials.
The strategy of Meloni
The margins of advancement of Meloni are more to obtain clarity on the objectives of the president Republican to achieve direct concessions, experts say.
Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the Policy Center Europeana group of experts in Brussels, commented: “It is a very delicate mission. There is the entire agenda commercialand although she is not officially negotiating, we know that Trump He likes to have this type of informal dialogue, which in a sense is a negotiation. So he has a lot of work to do. “
As leader of an extreme right party, Meloni is ideologically aligned with Trump In issues such as stopping migration, promoting traditional values and skepticism towards multilateral institutions.
But marked differences have emerged in the unwavering support of Meloni to Ukraine After the invasion of Russia, initiated in February 2022.
The two leaders are expected to talk about the war and the role of Italy In a possible post -war reconstruction of Ukraine. It is expected that Trump Press a Meloni to increase the expense of Italy in defensewhich last year was well below the objective of 2% of the Gross Domestic Product for the countries of the NATO Military Alliance. The expense of Italywith 1.49% of GDP, is among the lowest of Europe.
The importance of the visit
Despite the differences on Ukraine And the expense in defensesome members of the government of States United come to Meloni like a vital bridge towards Europe at a difficult time for transatlantic relationships.
A senior administration official, who informed journalists before the visit under the condition of anonymity according to the rules established by the White House, said that Trump Not only seeks to analyze with Meloni how “the market can be opened Italybut also how they can help us with the rest of Europe“
After being the only European leader to attend the investiture ceremony of Trump January 20, Meloni has responded with a studied moderation while the abrupt changes in the policy of States United during the Republican regime have worn out the alliance between States United and Europe. Denounced the dutydescribing them as “wrong”, and warned that “dividing the West would be disastrous for all”, after the heated dialogue of Trump In the White House with the president of Ukraine.
Wolfango Piccoli, an analyst of the consultant Teneo based in London, said: “It has been very cautious. It is what we need when we have a counterpart that changes every day. “
Italy Keep a surplus commercial of 40,000 million euros (45,000 million dollars) with States United, the major with any country, driven by the appetite of Americans by the Italian sparkling wine, foods such as the Parmigian cheese and the Parma ham, and the Italian luxury fashion.
These are fundamental sectors for the Italian economyand are mostly supported by small and medium producers who are key center -right voters.
“In general, I think it will focus on the very strong economic and commercial relations that Italy has with States United, not only in terms of exports, but also of services and energy, “said Antonio Villafranca, vice president of the ISPI expert group in Milan.
“For example, Italy I could even consider the possibility of importing more gas from States Joined”.
The meeting occurs in a context of growing concerns about the global uncertainty generated by the growing tariff wars. The forecast of growth of Italy For this year it has already been reduced from 1% to 0.5% as a result.
The government of Trump has imposed duty To much of the world, arguing that other countries have taken advantage of States United, as demonstrated by their commercial deficits.
But with the 90 -day pause, the White House increased the duty of Trump about China at 145% while maintaining duty separated from up to 25% over Canada, Mexico, cars, steel and aluminum.
On Wednesday, Trump met with the main negotiator commercial of JapanRyosei Akazawa. In social networks, the Republican president summed up the meeting as a “great progress!” but did not offer specific details.
China Simultaneously seek to reach Agreements that could deny the statements of Trump that its duty finally they would generate more jobs in national factories and a growth stronger.
Experts warned that expectations on any concrete progress between States United and the EU.
Piccoli said: “The best strategy It has been very circumstance: getting there, attending the meeting, taking the photo. If she is able to return and give an idea of how Washington wants to frame future relationships in trade, defense and politics of UkraineIt would be a great victory. “
