Trump reverses OK of G-7 trade statement
LA MALBAIE, Quebec — President Donald Trump threw the G-7 summit into disarray Saturday evening, tweeting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is “dishonest & weak” and that the U.S. was pulling back its endorsement of the group’s communique in part because of what he called Trudeau’s “false statements” at a news conference.
In an extraordinary set of tweets aboard Air Force One, on its way to Singapore for Tuesday’s summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Trump lashed out just as Canada released the G-7’s official communique. That statement took a generally positive view of the leaders’ positions on trade matters while acknowledging tensions with the U.S.
A few hours earlier, Trudeau had told reporters that all seven leaders had come together to sign the joint declaration.
Trump tweeted: “Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!”
He followed up by tweeting: “PM Justin German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks with President Donald Trump at the G-7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, on Saturday.
Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!”
In a statement, a spokesman for Trudeau did not address Trump’s insults. “We are focused on everything we accomplished here at the #G7 summit,” spokesman Cameron Ahmad said. “The Prime Minister said nothing he hasn’t said before — both in public, and
in private conversations with the President.”
As he exited the world summit, Trump had delivered a stark warning to America’s trading partners not to counter his decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. But the summit host, Trudeau, whose nation was among those singled out by Trump, pushed back and said he would not hesitate to retaliate against his neighbor to the south.
“If they retaliate, they’re making a mistake,” Trump declared before departing the annual Group of Seven summit, which includes
Britain, Italy, France, Germany and Japan.
Trudeau later said he reiterated to Trump that tariffs will harm industries and workers on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. He said that unleashing retaliatory measures “is not something I relish doing” but that he wouldn’t hesitate to do so because “I will always protect Canadian workers and Canadian interests.”
Despite the sharp differences, Trudeau said all seven leaders had come together to sign a joint declaration despite having “some strong, firm conversations on trade, and specifically on American tariffs.”
Speaking on Saturday during a rare solo news conference, Trump said he pressed for the G-7 countries to eliminate all tariffs, trade barriers and subsidies in their trading practices. He reiterated his long-standing view that the U.S. has been taken advantage of in global trade, adding, “We’re like the piggy bank that everybody’s robbing, and that ends.”
He said U.S. farmers had been harmed by tariffs and other barriers, and he warned that U.S. trading partners would need to provide him with more favorable terms. “It’s going to stop, or we’ll stop trading with them,” he said.
Trump cited progress on reaching an agreement on the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, saying the final outcome would lead either to an improved trade deal or separate pacts with the two U.S. neighbors. Trump said he was discussing two types of sunset provisions in which any of the countries could leave the deal.
A Canadian official said the leaders discussed accelerating the pace of the talks. But Trudeau objected strenuously to a sunset clause of any length. “If you put an expiry date on any trade deal, that’s not a trade deal. That’s our unequivocal position,” he said.