Trade spat looms as Trump heads for hostile G7
QUEBEC CITY: Europe and hosts Canada warned US President Donald Trump on Thursday that they will not be intimidated at the G7 summit, despite fears that a trade war will weaken the Western alliance.
With the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies due in Quebec, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned the US leader that they would not roll over on trade tariffs.
And France’s President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trudeau in Ottawa before they headed on to the summit, said he would rally support from his British, German and Italian counterparts before they all sit down with Trump.
“The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a six country agreement if need be,” Macron tweeted in English, turning to the medium Trump has made his own.
“Because these six countries represent values, they represent
The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a six country agreement if need be. Emmanuel Macron, France’s President
an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force.”
Trump, of course, responded in kind.
“Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the US massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers,” he tweeted.
“The EU trade surplus with the US is US$151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow.”
“Why isn’t the European Union and Canada informing the public that for years they have used massive Trade Tariffs and nonmonetary Trade Barriers against the US,” he later added.
“Take down your tariffs & barriers or we will more than match you!”
Trump, who met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Washington before the summit, may be more preoccupied with next week’s historic nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
But before leaving Washington, he made clear that he too has no intention of backing down on his plan to rebalance trade by imposing tariffs on steel, aluminium and other goods imported from US allies.
So great is the rift between traditional allies that some observers have suggested renaming the G7 summit the G6+1 – and Macron said they should not hesitate to reach agreements without Trump.
But observers point out that the group has never before failed to agree on some form of final communiqué, even in 1985, when they were likewise divided over trade.
Despite the threat that tensions over trade could tear the Western alliance apart and damage the cause of globalization and free trade, the usual group of anticapitalist protesters gathered.
The main meetings will be held two-and-a-half hours north of Quebec City – and of the international media center housing most of the reporters following the summit – in La Malbaie, Charlevoix.
But a small group of around 400 protesters had gathered in the provincial capital anyway on Thursday night, and were confronted by a large police operation to contain them.
As night fell crowds gathered near the conference media centre, some of them burning G7 flags and assaulting journalists.
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel had already admitted it will be difficult to even agree on wording for the traditional joint communiqué at the two-day meeting. — AFP