The G7 leaders are meeting in in Charlevoix, Quebec in Canada amidst divisions due to Donald Trump’s “America First” policies that are causing havoc around the world after the White House had imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on its allies including the European Union, Canada and Japan. US President has also threatened to do the same for foreign cars imports after he had withdrawn his country from environmental agreements and international deals to prevent Tehran from building a nuclear bomb.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who, as one of few European leaders, has invested in developing a personal relationship with Donald Trump said that the G7 group should remain a “polite” and productive platform but warned that “no leader is forever”, hinting that the EU should not give in to the current administration easily. “Maybe the American president doesn’t care about being isolated today, but we don’t mind being six, if needs be,” Mr. Macron commented. “Because these six represent values, represent an economic market, and more than anything, represent a real force at the international level today,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in turn said that was expecting “robust discussions” on trade but other G7 leaders seemed more reluctant to challenge Donald Trump. For Mr. Trump, it is another face-to-face meeting with world leaders that do not share his worldviews on a range of issues from trade to the environment as well as Iran and the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. While US President is not expected to compromise, some EU member states are willing to do so. Germany has suggested making some concessions over trade with Washington for fear of triggering more tensions over cars that would heavily impact companies like Mercedes and BMW.
