U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed cautious optimism on Sunday about the potential for long-term trade benefits between the United States and the European Union, marking a rare conciliatory tone from the Trump administration amid ongoing trade tensions.
Speaking ahead of a high-level meeting in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vance praised Meloni for her diplomatic efforts, calling her “a bridge builder” between Washington and Brussels.
I believe this will be a productive conversation, and hopefully the start of long-term trade negotiations that bring mutual advantages for both Europe and the United States, Vance said.
His remarks come in the wake of the Trump administration’s escalating tariff measures, including a 10 percent blanket tariff on imports and additional 25 percent duties targeting steel, aluminum, automobiles, and auto parts — actions that have affected the EU as well as other global partners. While a further 10 percent tariff on EU goods remains temporarily suspended until early July, the U.S. only recently submitted its trade objectives to Brussels, as first reported by POLITICO.
Von der Leyen, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, noted: “What unites us is our shared desire to reach a fair and balanced agreement.”
She also pointed to recent progress, highlighting that with documents now exchanged, technical experts from both sides are engaged in detailed discussions.
The meeting marked the first time a senior Trump official has publicly signaled interest in positive U.S.-EU trade dialogue since the administration launched its aggressive tariff campaign last month. President Trump has previously accused the EU of being formed to disadvantage the U.S., and has described the bloc as “nastier than China,” often overlooking America’s trade surplus in services with Europe, which nearly offsets the goods trade imbalance.
