‘We’re going to make it’: Trump says trade deal with EU will happen as he holds talks with Meloni

With Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by his side, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a possible trade deal between the United States and the EU during their meeting at the White House on Thursday.

This development comes as Trump made a U-turn on his reciprocal tariffs, which he imposed on his so-called ‘Liberation Day’, by announcing a 90-day pause.

“There will be a trade deal, 100 per cent,” Trump promised. “Of course there will be a trade deal. They want to make one very much, and we are going to make a trade deal, I fully expect it – but it will be a fair deal.”

It was the first time Trump publicly expressed confidence in trade talks with Europe. He has often criticised the EU for taking advantage of the US on trade and not doing enough for defence.

Meloni, the first European leader to visit the White House since Trump introduced and then paused major tariffs on the EU, said she couldn’t speak for all 27 EU countries but believed honest discussions could pave the way for a deal. For now, European products still face a 10 per cent tariff under Trump’s trade policy.

Trump says he is in ’no rush’ to end tariffs

Trump said on Thursday he is “in no rush” to make trade deals because of the revenue his tariffs are bringing in. However, he suggested that reaching an agreement with the EU and others would be easy.

Trump downplayed the idea of speeding up deals, stating that any agreements would happen “at a certain point.” He hinted that he has leverage because other countries want access to US consumers.

Meloni’s meeting with Trump is seen as a test of her role in bridging the EU and the US. She is the first European leader to meet the president since he introduced and then partially suspended 20 per cent tariffs on European exports.