Trudeau, G7 Leaders to confront Trump

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday he expects “frank and sometimes difficult” conversations with US President Donald Trump on US tariffs at the upcoming G7 summit. The Canadian prime minister will host the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States for an annual G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec on Friday and Saturday. “We know certainly that there will be frank and sometimes difficult discussions around the G7 table, particularly with the US president on tariffs,” Trudeau told reporters.He had hoped to put the focus on jobs, security concerns, cleaning up the world’s oceans and empowering women. But officials have conceded the G7 agenda is likely to be overtaken by trade disputes. Last week, the Trump administration unveiled punishing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from the EU, Canada and Japan, among others. That was met with retaliatory levies from its closest allies, which have raised fears of a trade war and prompted complaints to be filed with the World Trade Organisation. In Washington, Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow told reporters that Trump would press ahead with global tariffs on steel, and allies including Canada and the EU should not expect exemptions. He denied America’s trade policies left it isolated from G7 allies, but warned that Trump would “stick to his guns” at the upcoming summit. “There may be disagreements, I regard this as much like a family quarrel. I’m always the optimist, I believe it can be worked out,” Kudlow said. “We will do what is necessary to protect the United States, its businesses and its workforce,” he added. Kudlow also insisted that the US relationship with Canada, in particular, was still “very good.” But observers noted that Trudeau’s pointed rebuke last week, calling for “common sense” to prevail in the US administration, marked a turning point for the worse in the relationship.