Duties, Italy's day. Trump: 'We will make fair deal with EU and adjust with China'

"I am sure we will make a fair trade deal with the EU." Donald Trump said this during a meeting with Giorgia Meloni at the White House

Donald Trump has a 'very special relationship' with Giorgia Meloni. This was said by a source in the US administration at a briefing before the Italian premier's visit to the White House, according to Sky News reports. The same source specified that during the meeting the subject of defence will be discussed in addition to duties: anything Italy can do to exceed the 2% of GDP spending 'is very necessary', the senior administration official said.

Did Elly Schlein send a message to Meloni for today's meeting? 'I hope not, it's a totally wrong initiative, in the absolute wrong way. I think our task is to build a common European front not to give the message that everyone goes to talk to Trump for their own business'. Thus on Rai Radio1, guest of Un Giorno da Pecora, Pd deputy Andrea Orlando, interviewed by Geppi Cucciari.

In today's bilateral with Giorgia Meloni, Donald Trump "will reiterate his expectations for Italy and all of Europe to do their part to be good trading partners with the United States, including on economic issues such as taxation, where Italy has some domestic laws that we believe disproportionately affect American companies, such as the tax on digital services". This was said by a senior White House official in a briefing with a small group of journalists, anticipating some of the topics of the summit to be held in the Oval Office.

"Donald Trump continues to refuse to meet Ursula von der Leyen. Yet she is the EU's legitimate representative for trade talks. Ghosting is not acceptable. This institutional contempt humiliates us'. Former EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said this in an interview with the German newspaper Faz. "Von der Leyen was appointed president" of the EU Commission "by the European Parliament and the leaders. She represents all of us, the 450 million European citizens. She must be respected," the former French politician and manager emphasised in spite of his very tense relations with von der Leyen in the past, arguing that the president "must go to Washington to lead the negotiations directly". "Mr Trump may not like it, but this is the decision of our democracy," he noted. Europe, Breton explained, must respond to the tariff war 'without aggressiveness, without exaggeration and, above all, united', with a 'sector-by-sector' approach. However, he noted further, there are issues that 'are non-negotiable' such as Greenland's territorial integrity and democratic laws to protect consumers, tech and the environment. "It is up to the Commission President to say this loud and clear," he pointed out.

Giorgia Meloni can be a 'bridge' for the trade negotiations between the US and the EU.

This was emphasised by a senior Trump administration official in a briefing with a small group of journalists. "Italy is a strong partner for the United States, an important market for us.

So I am sure that in their discussions today, President Trump will not only focus on how to open up the Italian market, but also on how to help us with the rest of Europe,' the official said, ahead of today's bilateral between the Italian premier and the US president.

"There is a range of potential responses from the Commission. We know one, two or three, depending on the tactics adopted. I think the most obvious one, of those that have been commented on and actually put on the table, is the zero-for-zero tariff offer that has been put forward." This was said by the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, answering a question on this topic at a press conference in Frankfurt, speaking about the US tariff negotiations between the EU and the US.

Giorgia Meloni aims to give impetus to the negotiations on duties between the United States and the European Union. Thus the Financial Times headlines the article dedicated to the Italian premier's mission to Donald Trump in Washington. Four European countries not only see no problems in the mission, but believe that her relationship with the American president 'can be valuable', as a diplomat from one of them explained to the British newspaper. The mission of Meloni, who has been in regular contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with whom she also spoke on Tuesday, recalls the Financial Times, comes after the negative outcome of the first round of talks in recent days between the EU and the US on additional duties of 20 per cent above the base of ten and 25 per cent on steel, aluminium and cars and ten per cent on all European products exported to the US.

"We know that the one on tariffs is an impact that will hit growth while the one on inflation will be seen over time". This was stated by ECB President Christine Lagarde at a press conference after the Governing Council meeting, explaining that on this issue "there are diverging visions". "There are many uncertainties, decisions will be taken in the coming weeks but I think the net impact of rates on inflation will be seen over time," she concludes.

The day of the long-awaited face-to-face between Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump has arrived. At 6 p.m. (Italian time), the Prime Minister will cross the threshold of the White House: it will be the first time for a European leader after the offensive on duties launched on 2 April by the US president on the occasion of 'Liberation Day'. The prime minister's goal, repeatedly reiterated by Meloni in recent weeks, is to avert a trade war between the United States and the European Union, while at the same time promoting a channel for dialogue between the American administration and the Brussels summits. This is a course of action that the Palazzo Chigi leader has been able to concert with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with whom she is in close contact. The 'reciprocal' duties imposed by Trump on the EU (currently suspended for 90 days) will therefore be the central theme of the meeting with the tycoon, who has however already rejected Brussels' offer of 'zero duties' on cars and advanced industry in exchange for an increase in purchases of LNG (liquefied natural gas) and US weapons. The road, therefore, promises to be uphill. We are facing 'a phase that is as complex as it is fast-moving, in which it is necessary to think clearly, to work pragmatically,' stressed Meloni in the message sent yesterday to the general assembly of the Grana Padano Consortium. In addition to duties, the Middle East and Ukraine will also be among the bilateral topics. And it cannot be ruled out that the prime minister may relaunch one of her war horses, namely the proposal to extend NATO Article 5 guarantees to Kiev.

"Yesterday I had a very fruitful conversation with the President of Mexico and met with the highest level Japanese business representatives. It was a very fruitful meeting. Every nation, including China, wants meetings! Today, Italy!" the US President, Donald Trump, wrote this on Truth.