2025.08.06

• Europe & Americas

The rift between Trump and the EU: can Italy’s Meloni become a bridge-builder?(Geoeconomic Briefing)

Once the result of last year’s American election became clear, countries around the world started wondering how to deal with a second Trump administration. A key factor influencing their differences in approach is the organizational structure of the country in question. Japan, as a sovereign country, is dealing directly with the Trump administration in its negotiations on the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’, while the European Union (EU), as a supranational organization with exclusive competence on economic matters, negotiates directly but with a degree of influence coming from its Member States.