Vance Meets With EU President, Italian Prime Minister in Hopes of Fostering Trade Talks

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome on May 18. Vance said he hoped the rendezvous would lead to more trade discussions between the United States and the European Union. “Europe is an important ally of the United States … but, of course, we have some disagreements, as friends sometimes do, on issues like trade,” Vance said. He sat next to Meloni and von der Leyen in Rome after attending Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass. “I think we’ll have a great conversation, and hopefully it will be the beginning of some long-term trade negotiations and some long-term trade advantages between both Europe and the United States,” Vance added....