G7 focuses on implications of unilateral trade measures

The meeting of the G7 – consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States – was hosted by Canada from 8 to 9 June, in Charlevoix, Québec. Thee meeting focused heavily on the implications that unilateral trade measures could have on the global economic recovery, as well as environmental issues, such as actions on climate change. The meeting produced a joint communiqué but not all parts were agreed by consensus, with some paragraphs approved by subsets of the G7 membership – the US did not sign on to the communiqué’s language on climate change, for example. US tariffs on steel and aluminium were criticized during the meeting and the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, reiterated plans to impose countermeasures in response the tariffs. In response, President Trump announced that the US would withdraw its endorsement to the communiqué.