Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on 8 July received JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon at Palazzo Chigi to explore expanding the U.S. bank’s investments in Italy. A government note said the discussion centred on additional financing for strategic sectors, including infrastructure and artificial intelligence, and on potential support for Meloni’s Africa-focused “Piano Mattei” development initiative. During a subsequent stop in Europe on 10 July, Dimon warned that the European Union is “losing” the global competitiveness race against the United States and China. In comments reported by the Financial Times, he urged policymakers to accelerate growth-boosting reforms and said an EU-U.S. tariff framework "needs to get done" to provide business certainty. The twin messages underscore Italy’s drive to attract private capital while highlighting broader concerns among international investors about Europe’s growth outlook. JPMorgan, which ranks as the largest U.S. bank by assets, has been increasing its continental footprint, and Dimon’s remarks suggest the lender’s investment decisions will be influenced by how quickly European leaders tackle regulatory and trade frictions.