Despite criticism, Trump again lambastes Trudeau
President Trump took more swipes at Canada and its prime minister over trade issues as he settled in for a summit with North Korea in Singapore, contending that “Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade if it is not Reciprocal.”
Trump roiled the weekend Group of Seven meeting of industrialized nations in Canada by agreeing to a group statement on trade only to withdraw from it while flying to Asia. He complained that he had been blindsided by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s criticism of his tariff threats at a summit-ending news conference. In tweets, Trump insulted Trudeau as “dishonest” and “weak.”
The attack on a longtime ally and its leader drew sharp criticism. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also attended the summit, told German public television that she found Trump’s tweet disavowing the G-7 statement “sobering” and “a little depressing.”
Unbowed, Trump tweeted anew Monday from Singapore, repeating his criticism of U.S. trade policies with Canada — he also took aim at Germany — in a multi-tweet rant. At one point he wrote, “Justin acts hurt when called out!”
Yet his top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, downplayed the severity of the rift. Addressing reporters in Singapore, Pompeo said he was “unconcerned” that Trump’s treatment of Canada — a close ally — boded poorly for his ability to forge peace with a longtime U.S. adversary.
The European Union on Monday backed Trudeau, with European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas saying the EU “stands fully behind” the joint statement issued at the end of the G-7 meeting.
“The European Union will continue to stand up for an international, rules-based, multilateral system,” Schinas said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May also went out of her way to thank Trudeau “for his leadership and skillful chairing” of what she called “a difficult summit.”
Speaking to the House of Commons, May said the other G-7 nations “expressed deep disappointment at the unjustified decision of the United States to apply tariffs to steel and aluminum imports” and urged dialogue to avoid “tit-fortat escalation.”