Inside Meloni’s plan to sweet-talk Trump on tariffs

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🗞️ Driving the news: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travels to Washington this week with a high-stakes mission: to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider sweeping new tariffs that could severely impact European exports
• With Trump threatening to impose 20% duties on EU goods, Meloni’s strong personal rapport with the U.S. leader positions her as a potential mediator between Washington and Brussels

🔭 The context: Trump's trade stance has reignited fears of a transatlantic trade war
• The EU currently faces a baseline 10% tariff, with additional 25% levies on steel, aluminum, and autos
• While previous EU overtures have failed, Meloni’s ideological proximity and open diplomatic channel with Trump — who has publicly praised her — may offer a new negotiating pathway
• Italy’s trade surplus with the U.S., valued at nearly €40 billion, is especially vulnerable, putting Meloni under significant domestic pressure to secure relief

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Trade tensions have wide-reaching implications for the green transition
• Tariffs on key industrial goods can slow investment in clean technologies, increase costs for sustainable infrastructure, and strain EU-U.S. cooperation on climate initiatives
• A fragmented approach also risks undercutting the EU’s internal cohesion on environmental trade policies, such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms and green industrial subsidies

⏭️ What's next: Meloni will meet Trump on Thursday, followed by hosting U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Rome
• While no immediate breakthrough is expected, her visit could lay the groundwork for more constructive talks
• Brussels, despite initial skepticism, is supporting her mission as a potential opening to delay or defuse the tariff threat
• The next three months will be critical as EU leaders attempt to realign trade diplomacy and avert escalating economic fallout

💬 One quote: “Meloni’s trip to Washington right now is an important signal… she has a good connection to U.S. President Trump, which she can now put to the service of Europe.” – Johann Wadephul, German Christian Democrats

📈 One stat: Italy ranks third in the EU for trade surplus with the U.S., after Germany and Ireland, highlighting its high exposure to new American tariffs

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