Trump says he expects a trade deal with the EU in a meeting with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni

President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he expects to reach a trade deal with the European Union but is not hurrying to finish it, after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“There’ll be a trade deal,” Trump said at the start of the White House meeting. “I fully expect it, but it’ll be a fair deal.” 

He offered no deadline, saying agreements would come “at a certain point.” “We’re in no rush,” he added. “We are going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anyone else.”

Meloni, on her first visit to Washington since taking office, thanked Trump for accepting an invitation to Italy “in the near future.” 

She urged him to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, noting she “cannot do this deal in the name of the European Union.”

The Italian leader listed areas for cooperation, including defense, space, and energy, and said Rome “will have to increase its LNG imports.” She added, “The goal for me is to make the West great again. And I think we can do it together.”

Trump’s remarks followed his decision last week to pause higher tariffs on the EU and others, opening a 90‑day negotiating window. Talks are expected to run through early July, according to U.S. officials, leaving little time to bridge differences.

Without a settlement, the bloc faces a 20 percent “reciprocal” tariff, double the present 10 percent tariff. EU officials are drafting limits on certain exports to the United States and still hold in reserve a package of retaliatory levies prepared before Trump’s pause.

When asked if Europe would proceed with those steps, Meloni said she was “confident” a deal could avert an escalation. Trump said he still wants “a baseline of a substantial number” of duties left in place, suggesting full removal is off the table.

Italy serves as a bridge between the U.S. and Brussels

Italy, a Group of Seven economy and ideological ally of the White House, is viewed as a bridge between the administration and Brussels while markets fret about a wider slowdown.

Trump has been busy speaking with several nations. Meloni’s meeting came a day after he hosted a Japanese delegation and spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum over the phone. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States is focusing first on the 15 largest economies, with sessions set next week with South Korea and ongoing contacts with India.

“We have a lot of countries that want to make a deal,” Trump said. “Frankly, they want to make deals more than I do.”

Italian officials approached Thursday’s talks with modest hopes. U.S. aides have indicated most EU duties will stay, and technical meetings earlier in the week showed little movement. 

Washington also maintains extra charges on cars, steel, and aluminum, key Italian exports. About 10 percent of Italy’s overseas sales go to the United States, including autos, pharmaceuticals, food and wine, all vulnerable to the tariffs.

Beyond trade, Trump pressed European allies to spend more on defense. Italy has been raising its military budget and is drafting plans to meet NATO’s 2 percent‑of‑GDP goal. That is well below Trump’s preferred 5 percent and would require major fiscal changes in Rome.

“Europe, as you know, is committed to do more,” Meloni said, promising to push member states to lift outlays.

She will host U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday. Vance has taken a combative stance on Europe, scolding leaders at February’s Munich Security Conference and accusing them of slipping on democratic values.

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