Washington – President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was “not rushing” to reach any commercial deals because it sees customs duties as making the United States rich. But he suggested during his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni that it would be easy to find an agreement with the European Union and others.
Trump reduced the possibility of an accelerated timetable to end the deals, saying that other countries “want to make deals more than I do.”
“We are not in a hurry,” Trump said, hinting that he has influence because other countries want to reach American consumers.
This divided image shows Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in Rome, January 9, 2025 and President Donald Trump at the White House, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Washington.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Although Trump has a warm relationship with Meloni, she was not able to meet to change his opinion on the definitions.
“No, the definitions make us rich. We were losing a lot of money under Biden’s leadership,” Trump said of his democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. “And now the full tide has been turned.”
Trump is convinced that his devotion to definitions will lead to an unprecedented wealth of his country even with a decrease in the stock market, the benefit of the US debt has increased and that executives warn against price increases and job losses apparently as if it is a threat to the current structure of the global economy.
Trump’s bond market’s panic was partially restricted to its tariff, causing 20 % import taxes on the European Union for 90 days and the baseline receives 10 % instead. Meloni’s visit showed the challenge he faces even the leaders who enjoy a malevole with Trump.
After they met, Trump told the correspondents that commercial talks were easier than other trade negotiations such as mergers. He said that he spoke with Chinese officials about the customs tariff “a lot”, and the amount of his import taxes could be affected by agreeing to sell the social media site Tiktok. It also appeared to be contrary to his previous statement on Thursday morning about his failure to rush in commercial deals “during the next three or four weeks.”
Until then, Trump has not shown any interest in cutting the tariff completely.
“Customs tariff negotiations are really simpler than what everyone said,” Trump said. “A number of people will pay this number or decide to go to another place if there is such a place. It is not anywhere else.”
Meloni was, to some extent, a “knight” to represent the European Union in a critical turn in the advanced trade war that led to the neglect of recession. The American administration has extracted its European counterparts for not doing enough about national security while threatening their economies, which sparked deep uncertainty about the future of the coalition across the Atlantic.
She sought to photograph the United States and Europe as natural allies in Western civilization and said it was important to “try to sit and find a solution” for tensions on trade and national security.
“The goal for me is to make the West amazing again,” Meloni told Trump.
The European Union defends what it calls the “most important commercial relationship in the world”, with an annual trade with the United States, which total 1.6 trillion euros ($ 1.8 trillion). It was not clear, based on Meloni’s general reactions with Trump, whether the Prime Minister had a clear understanding of Trump as part of the agreement.
Its administration said that its definitions will enable the commercial negotiations that will bring China to produce the dominant manufacturer in the world. But Trump confirms that the competitors and allies alike benefited from the United States in trade, a position that thwarted long -term partners and raised concerns about whether Trump is a trustworthy deals.
Trump tried to back down from allegations that his definitions hurt the economy, saying that gasoline and egg prices are already decreased. The President blamed the federal reserve for the increasing interest rates on US debt. Prices have increased significantly because investors were concerned about Trump’s identification plans and became less willing to buy treasury notes, while the central bank has maintained steadfast prices due to economic uncertainty.
“We have very little inflation,” Trump said. “I would like to say that we have no essential enlargement.”
The European Union had already engaged with Trump administration officials in Washington. Maru Evovi, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, said that on Monday he met with the Minister of Commerce Howard Lottenic and American Trade Representative Jameson Jarir. EFOVI then said on X that it “requires a great joint effort on both sides” to reach a zero tariff and work on Nontarif commercial barriers, with Trump’s team specifically objected to Europe’s use of value -added taxes.
As a maximum right -wing party leader, Meloni is in line with Trump on issues including curbing immigration, and enhancing traditional values and doubts towards multilateral institutions. But the stark differences appeared in Melon’s fixed support for Ukraine after the invasion of Russia in February 2022.
The two leaders discussed the role of war and the role of Italy in the ultimate rebuilding Ukraine. Trump previously pressed Meloni to increase the defense spending in Italy, which last year decreased to much less than 2 % of the GDP goal of the NATO military alliance countries. Italy’s spending is 1.49 % of its gross domestic product, among the lowest rates in Europe.
Meloni said: “We did not talk about the amount of this percentage, although we really realize that the issue of defense is particularly important,” Meloni said.
Despite the differences in Ukraine and defensive spending, some view Meloni by some in the American administration as a vital bridge for Europe.
It was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration on January 20, and she responded to self -control because the transformations of the US policy under Trump’s leadership had been flying the US -European coalition. Meloni condemned the definitions as “wrong” and warned that “the division of the West would be catastrophic for all” after Trump’s hot exchange of the White House with the President of Ukraine.
Italy maintains a commercial surplus 40 billion euros ($ 45 billion) with the United States, the largest with any country, and is nourished by Americans ’appetite for Italian sparkling wine, foodstuffs such as Parmigiano Regiano Steel Cheese and Parapa, and Italian luxury costumes. These are all crucial sectors of the Italian economy, and most of them are supported by young and medium producers who are essential voters in the middle.
The meeting comes against the background of increasing concerns about the global uncertainty resulting from the wars of escalating tariffs. Italy’s growth forecast for this year has already been reduced from 1 % to 0.5 % as a result.
The White House imposed a tariff on most of the world, on the pretext that other countries have benefited from the United States, as shown in their trade deficit. But with the stopping of 90 days, Trump’s tariff for China has increased to 145 % while keeping separately up to 25 % on Canada, Mexico, cars, steel and aluminum.
On Wednesday, Trump met with the chief trade negotiator in Japan, Ryosi Akazawa. Trump, on social media, summarized the meeting as a “great progress!” But he did not provide any details.
China simultaneously seeks to conclude deals that can undermine the claims made by Trump that its definitions will eventually lead to more local factory functions and stronger growth.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessin said on Thursday that the administration is working on “the 15 senior economies” first when it comes to commercial deals. He said that South Korean officials will visit Washington next week.
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Barry mentioned from Milan. The Associated Press Loren Cook’s book in Brussels contributed to this report.
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