**Washington**: President Donald Trump expressed strong confidence in reaching an equitable trade deal with the European Union during talks with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, despite ongoing tariff disputes, lack of direct dialogue with the EU Commission, and challenges surrounding regulatory and political complexities.
Donald Trump has expressed full confidence in the imminent establishment of a trade deal between the United States and the European Union, two of the world’s largest economic entities. Speaking during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump declared, “Oh, there’ll be a trade deal, 100%,” emphasising his expectation that the agreement will be not just reached, but also equitable. The interaction took place as part of ongoing high-level diplomatic efforts to resolve tariff disputes that have heightened tensions between Washington and Brussels.
This announcement follows Trump’s earlier imposition of a 20% tariff on imports from the European Union, a move that was subsequently paused for 90 days to allow for negotiations. The suspension period is framed as a critical window for seeking compromises, with multiple nations engaging with the White House. Just prior to Meloni’s visit, Trump had met with a Japanese trade delegation, underlining the administration’s broader effort to recalibrate trade relationships. “Everybody’s on my priority list,” Trump remarked, indicating his agenda’s wide scope.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, visiting as the first European leader since the tariff announcements, echoed the optimism expressed by Trump, stating, “I’m sure we can make a deal, and I’m here to help on that.” Nevertheless, Meloni highlighted a practical limitation when she clarified, “I cannot deal in the name of the European Union.” Her remark underscores the complex governance structure of the EU, where trade policy is centrally managed. Italy, as part of the 27-member bloc, adheres to unified customs and tariff regulations set by the European Commission, which possesses exclusive authority over commercial policy.
This institutional reality narrows the diplomatic channel for the US to just one principal interlocutor: the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Despite the centrality of von der Leyen’s role, Donald Trump has yet to engage directly with her since assuming office. The lack of communication at the highest political level contrasts sharply with the urgency and importance of the trade negotiations underway.
The broader context is marked by contrasting narratives and political postures. Donald Trump has publicly expressed strong criticism of the EU, describing it as a “monopolistic force” that he claims exploits the US economically. His condemnation extends to the EU’s trade practices, which he asserts are unfair to American producers. Brussels officials respond by highlighting the balanced nature of transatlantic trade, noting that while the EU holds a goods surplus with the US (€156.6 billion in 2023), the US maintains a services surplus (€108.6 billion), suggesting reciprocal economic interdependence rather than systemic exploitation.
Despite the stakes, the slow diplomatic progress is attributed in part to this discord and a persistent communication gap. Ursula von der Leyen’s efforts to arrange meetings or calls with President Trump have so far been unsuccessful. She nevertheless maintains a commitment to transatlantic partnership, having described herself as a “great friend” of America and a “convinced Atlanticist,” although her tone has hardened in response to the ongoing tensions, stating in a German newspaper, “Europe is still a peace project. We don’t have bros or oligarchs making the rules. We don’t invade our neighbours, and we don’t punish them.”
In the absence of direct dialogue between the heads of the European Commission and the US government, trade negotiations continue at the technical and deputy levels. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade, alongside senior US officials including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, have engaged in multiple meetings. Their latest talks, held in Washington shortly after the tariff suspension was announced, covered a range of issues including the possibility of a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal on industrial goods, semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries, and challenges related to global steel and aluminium overcapacity.
Despite these exchanges, a source familiar with the discussions confided to Euronews that the behind-the-scenes efforts have yet to produce substantial progress. The source expressed concern that the White House might not honour the 90-day suspension fully and highlighted the looming threat of tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector, a move President Trump has indicated may still be pursued. “I think the US got a bit spooked by the impact of pharma tariffs initially as they hadn’t evaluated the supply chain issues, but they may not await for the outcome of negotiations,” the official remarked anonymously.
A further complicating factor involves digital trade regulations introduced by the EU in recent years, specifically the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These legislative measures have prompted regulatory probes into major American technology firms such as Meta, Google, X, and Apple. The European Commission insists these investigations are unrelated to tariff discussions, but some in the Trump administration, notably senior trade adviser Peter Navarro, have publicly connected the issues, describing the EU’s actions as “lawfare” and implicating them in trade tensions.
The unpredictable nature of President Trump’s decision-making also casts uncertainty over the negotiations’ ultimate outcome. The aforementioned source suggested that while a technical agreement might be reached by Šefčovič, Lutnick, and Greer, it risks being undermined if Trump or his close advisers alter their stance abruptly.
When questioned about the potential timing of a deal or meetings with von der Leyen during the visit by Prime Minister Meloni, Trump appeared to moderate his initial certainty, stating, “We’re in no rush.” He mentioned that his team has engaged “numerous talks” with “other countries,” without referencing any discussions with the European Commission President. Additionally, he defended his tariff strategy, asserting, “Tariffs are making us rich.”
In summary, while President Trump projects confidence on resolving trade disagreements with the European Union, the structural, political, and diplomatic complexities involved indicate a challenging path ahead. With no direct communication yet achieved between the US President and the European Commission President, ongoing negotiations are being conducted at lower levels, with critical issues of tariffs, regulatory alignment, and market access remaining controversial focal points. The 90-day tariff suspension period remains a key timeframe for potential breakthroughs, but the volatility of the political environment raises questions about the stability of any prospective agreement. The Euronews.com is reporting.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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