Italian PM Meloni heads to Washington for crucial tariff talks
European Affairs Minister Tommaso Foti said in a television interview that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Washington, D.C., for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding tariffs. When asked in what capacity she would travel, he replied: "She will go there as a leader from Europe, which does not have a leader."
Referring to the media-reported date of April 16 as the day of the Italian Prime Minister's trip to the USA, Minister Foti stated: "I don't know if it will be the 16th, but Giorgia Meloni will go."
Minister Foti explained that Meloni will visit Washington, aware that tariff policy concerns the European Union, and to seek a clear dialogue with President Trump. He noted that the starting point for Meloni's talks with Trump will be that the new tariffs announced by him "are a mistake."
Commenting on the situation in global markets, Minister Foti assessed: "Panic only brings losses." He stressed the importance of facing the situation with the perspective that it could be temporary.
The Italian minister expressed the view that the Union ought to seek dialogue with Trump, noting that in certain areas — such as European tariffs impacting American cars — he could have relevant points to raise. The minister emphasized the importance of steering clear of a trade conflict.
In his opinion, "retaliatory tariffs should not be introduced."
"We do not want to start a trade war," repeated Foti. He emphasized that Giorgia Meloni fought to exclude U.S. whiskey from tariffs, as it would impact Italian wines through retaliatory measures.
EU to respond to Trump's tariffs
The European Commission will propose imposing retaliatory tariffs of up to 25 percent on American goods, according to a document obtained by PAP on Monday. This is in response to Washington's decision to impose additional tariffs on the European Union.
The Commission's draft decision is 67 pages long and mostly filled with tables listing goods that will be subject to EU tariffs. The proposal predominantly suggests a 25-percent tariff and much less frequently a 10-percent one.
From the document seen by PAP, it appears that the EC did not propose tariffs on American whiskey. However, the list includes tariffs on yachts imported from the USA to the EU. There are also food products such as eggs, poultry, soybeans, and meat products.
Member states will vote on this matter on Wednesday (a majority of 15 countries, representing 65 percent of the EU's population, must reject the proposal). This is not a new list—during Donald Trump's first presidency (2017-21), the EU imposed tariffs in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum. Now the EC has refreshed this list.
