G7 leaders discuss global trade amid Trump tariff tensions
By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - 11 minutes ago - 10:51 | All, World
The leaders of the Group of Seven democracies discussed global trade Monday as they kicked off two days of talks in Canada, while trying to hide divisions stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and unilateralism.
Trump's transactional approach to diplomacy and his confrontational trade actions, also targeted at G7 countries, have tested the 50-year-old group's ability to coordinate global economic policy and address threats to international peace and security.
As the leaders sat around the table, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, chair of the summit, warned that the world is "more divided and dangerous," underscoring the importance of "cooperation" and "economic prosperity" for it to shape a better future.
"We might not agree on absolutely every issue, but where we will cooperate, we will make an enormous difference for our citizens and for the world, and bring the next era of prosperity," he said.
But Trump already indicated he is not on the same page as his counterparts in the G7, which groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union.
Trump repeated his complaint about the expulsion of Russia from the group, a decision made in 2014 after Moscow occupied and annexed the autonomous Ukrainian region of Crimea, calling the exclusion a "very big mistake."
While speaking alongside Carney before their bilateral meeting, Trump went beyond even the notion of a revived Group of Eight, responding to a reporter's hypothetical question about China's inclusion by saying, "It's not a bad idea."
On the first day of their discussions in the Canadian mountain resort of Kananaskis near Calgary, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the other leaders focused on the world economy and economic security, including strengthening supply chains for critical minerals, as well as regional affairs.
Ishiba stressed the need for the G7 to unite and lead the international community in building a "free, fair and rules-based economic order," according to the Japanese government.
He also said it is essential to maintain and reinforce the multilateral free trade regime with the World Trade Organization at its core.
With the gathering coming just days after Israel's unprecedented strikes on Iran, which have killed top military commanders and damaged nuclear sites, the conflict between the Middle East foes is likely to top a packed agenda.
As Israel, backed by the Trump administration, and Iran continue to exchange missile attacks, all eyes are on whether the leaders will collectively urge Jerusalem and Tehran to de-escalate the conflict.
During a session on regional affairs, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region will be a central topic, with Ishiba, the sole Asian leader in the informal forum, set to be a lead speaker, according to G7 officials.
Stability in the region, where China has been stepping up military activity as it pushes its territorial claims, is likely to be one of the few issues on which Trump can easily align with the rest of the leaders.
They are expected to reiterate the G7's past strong opposition to any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East and South China seas by "force and coercion."
Carney, who will chair the talks through Tuesday, is not expected to issue a detailed joint statement at the end of the summit, marking a departure from the group's usual practice, the officials have said.
Reflecting on the difficulty of reaching a consensus on major global issues following the return of Trump and his "America First" agenda, the G7 leaders plan to release brief "action-oriented" statements instead.
Since beginning his second, nonconsecutive term in January, Trump has upended the global economic order by imposing hefty tariffs on imports from almost all countries.
Nearly a month ago, the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors, who gathered in nearby Banff to prepare for the leaders' meeting, refrained from mentioning Trump's tariff war in their joint statement and opted to showcase their unity in tackling common challenges such as global imbalances.
The G7 summit is the first major multilateral event attended by Trump during his second term. Carney, Ishiba, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are all attending for the first time since taking office.
Carney has invited some leaders from outside the group, including Australia, India, South Korea and Ukraine, who will join their G7 counterparts on the second day of discussions.
On Tuesday, there will be a session dedicated to Ukraine, with its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to call for a united front to halt Russia's war against his country.
Related coverage:
Japan, U.S. still far from tariff deal after Ishiba-Trump summit
China's nuclear arsenal hits 600 warheads, up 100 from year before
U.S., China hold high-level trade talks with rare earths in focus
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