France, April 17 -- Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni heads to Washington on Thursday to meet with Donald Trump, hoping a personal charm offensive can help convince the US president to cut a more favourable deal on EU tariffs.

The far-right Meloni- described by Trump as a "fantastic leader" and who shares many of his conservative views - has looked to maintain ties with the mercurial leader despite the widespread disruption caused by his tariff policies.

Still, she has criticised as "wrong" his 20 percent duties on exports from the European Union, which he later suspended for 90 days.

Since Trump's trade war with the bloc began, Meloni has urged Brussels not to retaliate, calling for cool heads while casting herself as the only EU ...