G7 Diplomats Meet in Canada Amid US Trade Tensions
Top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) countries met in Canada as trade and foreign policy tensions with the United States deepened. The meeting, held in the La Malbaie region of Quebec, came shortly after the United States, under President Donald Trump’s administration, threatened steep tariffs and made unilateral policy moves that have unsettled many of its long-standing allies.
Trade Disputes in Focus
Allied nations, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, voiced concerns about U.S. actions on tariffs, particularly in steel, aluminium and agricultural imports. The U.S. also indicated it might ignore traditional G7 protocols such as issuing a joint statement, reflecting deeper rifts over trade policy, defence spending and global leadership roles.
Broader Geopolitical Agenda
In addition to trade, the meeting agenda reportedly covered stabilising the Ukraine conflict, managing China’s rise and addressing global protectionism. Despite the fraught start, diplomats emphasised the need to sustain cooperation on security, climate and multilateral frameworks even as economic fault-lines grow.
