American Italian Food Coalition Welcomes Italian Prime Minister to U.S.A.

Meloni’s meeting with Trump presents opportunity to advance trade discussions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Co-chairs of the American Italian Food Coalition, former Member of Congress Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti, issued the following statement ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in Washington on Thursday:

“We are grateful Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni is back in Washington to strengthen the strong partnership between our two great nations. The Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump represents an opportunity to reaffirm our alliance and make progress toward trade agreements that will benefit businesses, workers, and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We encourage the Prime Minister and the President to discuss the need to exempt food products from tariffs, while negotiators focus on the true drivers of the U.S-EU trading relationship. Food makes up only a small fraction of imports from the EU, but increased costs from tariffs will raise grocery prices for hardworking Americans, open U.S. food producers to retaliation, and hurt the strong cultural relationship between the U.S. and its closest allies, including Italy.

“Food, including the unique Italian food products made by our members, brings people and counties together. We hope the Trump Administration will agree and exempt food from the current and any future tariffs.”

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The American Italian Food Coalition is an alliance of more than 530 Italian companies, manufacturers, and trade associations dedicated to ensuring American consumers continue to have access to high-quality, affordable imported Italian products including pasta, coffee, biscuits, and wafers.