{"id":166612,"date":"2018-06-08T23:23:53","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T03:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=166612"},"modified":"2018-06-08T23:23:53","modified_gmt":"2018-06-09T03:23:53","slug":"trump-barrels-into-g-7-summit-ready-to-fight-us-allies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2018\/06\/08\/trump-barrels-into-g-7-summit-ready-to-fight-us-allies\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump barrels into G 7 summit, ready to fight US allies"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Trump<\/a>
Trump joined the leaders of major industrialized nations in an idyllic Canadian resort town after days of escalating conflict over new U.S. tariffs he slapped on imports of steel and aluminum. (Photo<\/a>: Donald J. Trump\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LA MALBAIE, Que. — Bruising for a fight, President Donald Trump barrelled into the Group of Seven summit Friday, confronting longtime U.S. allies over a burgeoning trade dispute and insisting Russia should be brought back into the fold.<\/p>\n

Trump joined the leaders of major industrialized nations in an idyllic Canadian resort town after days of escalating conflict over new U.S. tariffs he slapped on imports of steel and aluminum. Facing pointed criticism from increasingly disillusioned allies, he punched back, uncowed by the growing global outcry.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, all of these countries have been taking advantage of the United States on trade,\u201d Trump told reporters as he left the White House, repeating his longstanding complaints about trade deficits and tariffs. He declared, \u201cWe have to straighten it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Trump did seek to lower the temperature after his arrival. He bantered easily with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, joking that the neighbouring leader had \u201cagreed to cut all tariffs and all trade barriers.\u201d And he emphasized a \u201cgood relationship\u201d with French President Emmanuel Macron, saying they sometimes have a \u201clittle test\u201d on trade, but predicting a positive outcome.<\/p>\n

Still, the fundamental differences remained clear. Trump again railed against trade deficits with other countries and repeated that he may pursue separate negotiations with Canada and Mexico to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.<\/p>\n

Both sides suggested some progress in NAFTA talks, with White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying they were \u201cclose to a deal,\u201d though adding there was also discussion of a bilateral deal. A Canadian official said the leaders discussed accelerating the talks.<\/p>\n

Macron said there had been \u201copen and direct\u201d discussions on trade, adding that he thought there was a way to get a \u201cwin-win\u201d outcome, though details remained unclear.<\/p>\n

Before arriving at the meeting of the group, which some suggest Trump is pushing from the Group of Seven into \u201cG-6 plus one,\u201d he further stirred the pot by asking why Russia was excluded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should let Russia come back in because we should have Russia at the negotiating table,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Russia was ousted from the elite group in 2014 as punishment for President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. In the U.S., special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in a bid to sway the 2016 presidential election in his favour.<\/p>\n

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Russia issue \u201chasn’t been raised around the G-7 table,\u201d though she said there have been \u201csome direct conversations in bilateral meetings.\u201d She added \u201cthere are no grounds whatsoever for bringing Russia with its current behaviour back into the G-7.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the tension, the president was greeted cordially by Trudeau as he arrived at the annual gathering, held this year at a picturesque Quebec resort. Other members of the Group of Seven are France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain. The European Union also attends.<\/p>\n

Trump showed up late and will leave early on Saturday, heading to Singapore for his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He spent Friday participating in the rituals of the G-7, including the formal greeting by host Trudeau, a group photo in front of the sparkling St. Lawrence River and a working lunch of Arctic char and buckwheat salad.<\/p>\n

Over the course of his presidency, Trump has inflamed allies with his isolationist policies, including withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate accord and the international Iran nuclear agreement. Under Trump, the United States has abandoned its traditional role in the G-7 as an advocate for freer global trade, instead pushing more protectionist policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rules-based international order is being challenged, not by the usual suspects but by its main architect and guarantor: the United States,\u201d said European Council President Donald Tusk.<\/p>\n

Relations have hit such a low point that a key question now is whether the seven countries can agree on a joint statement of priorities at the conclusion of the meeting. Macron said Thursday on Twitter, \u201cThe American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be.\u201d Trump said he thinks the group will produce a joint statement.<\/p>\n

In the days leading up to the summit, Trudeau and Macron have severely criticized Trump’s new tariffs, which critics say threaten to drive up prices for American consumers and companies and heighten uncertainty for businesses and investors around the globe.<\/p>\n

But Trump, who frames his trade moves as a fulfilment of his campaign promises, is vowing to hold firm, tweeting Thursday: \u201cTake down your tariffs & barriers or we will more than match you!\u201d<\/p>\n

The French president did have some private time with Trump before the summit officially started. Macron tweeted a short video of the two together, saying: \u201cSharing, reaching out, always, to promote the interests of the French people, and all those who believe in a world we can build together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to leaving Washington, Trump appeared unenthusiastic about the summit, complaining to aides about having to attend, particularly with his Singapore sit-down with Kim right around the corner. On Friday morning, he appeared in no hurry to leave for Canada, walking out of the White House more than half an hour late and answering questions from reporters for nearly 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

To Trump’s suggestion that Russia be welcomed back to the group, allies had mixed responses.<\/p>\n

In Paris, Macron’s office said it wouldn’t make sense and pointed out that the latest country to impose economic sanctions on Russia was the U.S. Italy’s new premier, Giuseppe Conte, tweeted that he agreed with Trump, saying: \u201cRussia should go back into the G-8. In the interest of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tusk was not convinced.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet’s leave seven as it is,\u201d Tusk said. \u201cIt’s a lucky number.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russia seemed unconcerned. State news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, \u201cWe are putting the emphasis on other formats.\u201d<\/p>\n

——<\/p>\n

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Ken Thomas, Jill Colvin and Darlene Superville in Washington, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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