Politics·Updated
G-7 leaders officially got down to business in their first major working session of this year’s summit in the French seaside resort of Biarritz. The key meeting for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came later Sunday morning when he sat down with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Prime Minister held bilateral meeting with U.S. president alongside G7 summit talks Sunday
Murray Brewster · CBC News ·
G7 leaders officially got down to business in their first major working session of this year’s summit in the French seaside resort of Biarritz.
The key meeting for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came later Sunday morning when he sat down with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The first full-fledged working session is devoted to the global economy.
And it is likely leaders will be looking for insight about how far Trump intends to take his trade war with China.
Markets tumbled on Friday as Trump escalated that fight.
Trump promised he will raise existing duties on $250 billion US in Chinese good to 30 per cent on Oct. 1, and will hit an additional $300 billion in Chinese products on Sept. 1.
In addition to Trump and Trudeau, the G7 leaders include Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italy’s acting Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and European Council President Donald Tusk.
Tackling tensions with Iran
Trump disputed statements by the French government that the Group of Seven nations agreed to empower French President Emmanuel Macron to send a message on behalf of the advanced democracies to Iran.
Asked if he signed onto the message, Trump told reporters, “I haven’t discussed that.”
The French presidency said earlier Sunday that the leaders of the G-7 countries agreed to allow French President Emmanuel Macron to address a message to Iran in their name and to hold talks with Iranian officials.
No details were provided on the message but the French presidency said the goal is to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and avoid further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Shinzo Abe that he’s not stopping any leader from talking with Iran, noting Abe’s recent outreach. He said: “If they want to talk, they can talk.”
Trump said he and Abe discussed the possibility of a trade deal between their two nations.
“It will be a very big deal. It’s a major deal with Japan, if it gets done, we’ll possibly know by the end of this meeting.”
Trump asked to ease off on trade disputes
On Saturday, European Council president Donald Tusk called for an end to the trade wars, especially the senseless disputes that have divided G7 nations.
French President Emanuel Macron is also said to be pushing Trump to ease off.
Canadian officials say trade and the economy will be a major focus when Trudeau meets with Trump later today.
It’s expected to be a checkup meeting as the new North American free trade deal heads toward ratification.
Prior to coming to the summit, White House officials said Trump is aiming to convince leaders the U.S. approach of tax cut and less regulation is something they should adopt.
They also said Trump is intent on opening up new avenues for U.S. business in both Canada and Europe.
There has been behind-the-scenes sniping at the French by the Americans, according to multiple U.S. media reports.
Bloomberg quoted American officials as saying they believed Macron was trying to isolate Trump by focusing much of the G-7’s time on climate change.
Separately, senior Trump administration officials told The New York Times the French were talking about “niche issues” than economic ones.
French protesters draw attention to climate change, labour issues
Critics of French President Emmanuel Macron are marching near the summit to demand he do more to protect French workers and the planet.
A mix of activists, some wearing yellow vests, carried portraits of Macron as they marched Sunday through the southwest city of Bayonne. Some held the portraits upside down.
The protesters are holding portraits in solidarity with environmental activists who removed official portraits of Macron from town halls around France earlier this year to protest his climate change policies.
Internationally, Macron is a vocal champion of fighting climate change, and has challenged Trump on the issue. At home in France, however, activists accuse him of lagging on promises to wean France from fossil fuels.
About the Author
Murray Brewster is senior defence writer for CBC News, based in Ottawa. He has covered the Canadian military and foreign policy from Parliament Hill for over a decade. Among other assignments, he spent a total of 15 months on the ground covering the Afghan war for The Canadian Press. Prior to that, he covered defence issues and politics for CP in Nova Scotia for 11 years and was bureau chief for Standard Broadcast News in Ottawa.
With files from Associated Press.
