U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a trade agreement on customs tariffs between the United States and the European Union is certain to be signed, but it must be based on fairness. According to The Wall Street Journal, Washington intends to demand that its allies reduce their trade ties with China in exchange for lower American tariffs.
The American leader expressed confidence that both sides are eager to reach a trade agreement, emphasizing the importance of fairness in its terms. He made this statement during a conversation with the White House press pool ahead of a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Trump described the likelihood of a deal being struck as “absolute” — in his words, the chances are 100%.
“Yes, there will definitely be a trade deal. The EU wants it. We’ll get there, and I am fully confident it will happen. But it has to be a fair agreement,” he said.
When asked which countries he considers a priority for the deal, Trump gave a vague response: “All the countries are on my priority list.”
Regarding the timeline for reaching an agreement, the president remarked that there is no rush: “We’re not in a hurry.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is working on an initiative aimed at convincing over 70 countries to limit their trade with China. In return, the U.S. is willing to reduce existing tariffs. Currently, some Chinese goods are subject to tariffs as high as 145%, to which Beijing responded by imposing retaliatory tariffs of 125%.
Meloni was the only EU leader present at Trump’s inauguration. As The Washington Post reports, citing an unnamed Italian official, Brussels believes she has managed to build a warm relationship with the new American administration. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Italian prime minister could play a key role in facilitating dialogue between the EU and Washington, the source added.
Bloomberg reports that during her visit to the United States in April, Giorgia Meloni plans to negotiate at least partial relief for European imports from U.S. tariffs. Previously, on April 9, Trump extended the suspension of new tariffs for 90 days, explaining that several countries, including European ones, had shown a willingness to engage in negotiations and had refrained from imposing countermeasures. During this period, mutual tariffs remain in place at a rate of 10%.
The European Union, in turn, expressed readiness to respond to Trump’s protectionist measures. In particular, the European Commission proposed imposing 25% tariffs on a range of American goods, including nuts, soybeans, sausages, dental floss, and even diamonds.