Donald Trump expects “100 percent” with agreement in the dispute with the EU

US President Donald Trump is convinced in the customs dispute with the European Union that “100 percent” will agree. “I’m expecting it, but it will be a fair agreement,” said Trump at a meeting with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the White House.

When asked by a journalist, he answered what would happen if there was no agreement at the end of the 90 -day break he set – and reacted almost mockingly: “What? You think it will be no … Of course there will be a trade agreement,” he said. The EU wants to “absolutely” make a deal. This demonstrative certainty follows a well -known pattern: Trump likes to make clear announcements like this – probably also in order to bring negotiating partners in the forced.

After great turbulence on the stock and financial markets, Trump surprisingly decided to grant many states- including the EU- a break from certain tariffs for 90 days. It is about punitive levies based on the trade deficit of the respective countries, except for China. The US President initially put part of his huge customs package on hold. The EU had also announced that the planned counter-tariffs were initially exposed to US products for 90 days.

For her part, Meloni said that the goal was to find a middle ground. She also wanted to invite Trump for talks to Italy, she continued. Trump was full of praise for the guest from Italy: “She is a great Prime Minister. I think she is doing a fantastic job in Italy. We are very proud of her.” Like many other European heads of government, Meloni Trump’s announcement of new punitive tariffs criticized-at the same time, she endeavors to a good relationship with the US President and offered herself as a “bridge builder”.

The chair of the right party Fratelli d’Italia (brothers in Italy) took part in Trump’s inauguration in January and was previously guests in his residence Mar-A-Lago in Florida. Among the European heads of government, Meloni is one of Trump’s preferred contact persons.

Against the background of the escalating trade conflict that Trump started, IMF chief Kristalina Georgiewa had warned against growing stress for the global economy just a few hours earlier. “Our new growth forecasts will include significant downward corrections – but do not predict any recession,” she said before the start of the spring conference of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington. For some countries there will also be upward corrections in the inflation forecast.

At the same time, Georgiewa expressed concern about increasing nervousness on the financial markets. The uncertainty “literally went through the ceiling”. The escalating trade dispute shaked confidence in the international economic system – and not only burdened small economies, but also large trading partners.