Will the EU resolve the US customs dispute before Easter? Thursday US president Donald Trump will welcome Italian Prime Minister in the White House Giorgia Meloni. A politician from the right-wing populist organization of the Italian Brothers She gets along well with both Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. As a result, her mission has advanced hopes.
One thing is clear to the European side: Meloni can only solve the issue of suspended duties if he presents Trump with an attractive offer that he can sale to his fellow countrymen as a victory.
So far, the elements have been secretly agreed. Only published threats of remedial measures in case Trump is not ready to surrender — specified as a fresh taxation on American net giants specified as Google, Meta, or Amazon. In another words, the proverbial “kij”.
But what about the carrot?
Contract core
It has now become apparent that Brussels has discreetly asked in the main EU capitals whether governments would be ready buy more weapons and gas from the USA.
Purchase of American weapons as part of EU arms programme (Readiness 2030) would mean moving distant from earlier plans to like purchases from the European arms industry. Scope of orders: up to a full of 150 billion EUR (644 billion PLN).
Since Meloni is the first individual from Europe to sit at the table with Trump, Italy's consequence was especially awaited. Rome has given a green light to both proposals, reports Corriere della Sera. The signals from Berlin are besides positive.
This means that if Paris does not stand in the way, there could be a decision in the dispute: EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic he went to Washington and wants to talk to his American counterpart as shortly as possible about a fresh approach that could crush the US trade deficit from the EU.
Target Meloni
Diplomats in Brussels hope Trump can besides be interested fast solution after severe turbulence financial markets.
Following Trump's introduction of duties, the Italian Prime Minister announced that her government would work on an agreement with Washington to prevent a trade war. specified a war would in her opinion weaken the West. Trump's decision was wrong.
She besides indicated that she wanted to address China with Trump. The Meloni line clearly does not correspond to the Prime Minister of Spain line Pedro SanchezWho went to meet Chinese dictator Xi Jinping at the end of the week. The Italian wants to prevent the EU from entering into a pact with Beijing in a customs dispute, which is another reason why it wants to fix relations with Washington quickly.
Meloni formulated her goal as follows: a solution ‘0 to 0’ means the abolition of all duties on both sides of the Atlantic. For all those who know small about football: “0:0” is the standard consequence of a strong defensive Squadra Azzurra. So you could say it's an Italian specialty.
