International
US, Western allies in war of words after G7 fiasco
There is a possible risk of an impending diplomatic and trade crisis between the US and its Western allies after a conflict over international trade at the just concluded G7 summit.
Reports say French, Canadian and German governments have been involved in a war of words with Washington after US President Donald Trump abruptly rejected a previously agreed joint statement in the wake of a fractious Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada.
Minutes after the publication of the joint statement, Trump announced on Twitter that he was retracting his support, which led to a series of tense remarks among the allies.
Trump went further to accuse Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister and host of the G7 summit, of being “very dishonest” in a series of tweets.
Read also: Trump fires back at EU, Canada over trade tariff backlash
Reacting to comments by Trump, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada will retaliate to US tariffs in a measured and reciprocal way and it will always be willing to talk.
“Canada does not conduct its diplomacy through ad hominem attacks … and we refrain particularly from ad hominem attacks when it comes from a close ally,” Freeland told reporters in Quebec City on Sunday.
The two-day meeting also saw the leaders of the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Japan, Italy and Canada vow to tackle protectionism and cut trade barriers.
But the pledge did little to bridge a growing divide among the G7 partners following Trump’s imposition of tariffs on its allies last week and a looming threat of a global trade war.
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