By Jim Puzzanghera Jun 09, 2018 | 5:50 PM
President Trump alienated the United States’ closest allies at the Group of Seven summit in Canada with his aggressive trade declarations and surprising suggestion that Russia be readmitted to the exclusive club of major economic powers — and then, after departing early, went on Twitter to blow up the agreement forged at the meeting.
Trump exited the Quebec resort Saturday where the group had gathered, leaving other world leaders whipsawed and uncertain about their future relationship with the U.S., to head to Singapore for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday.
Trump’s actions added to the anxiety of longtime U.S. allies, who are alarmed to see him lashing out against them while he is advocating for Russian President Vladimir Putin and cozying up to Kim.
“I’ll be on a mission of peace,” Trump told reporters before heading for Air Force One to fly to Asia.
But his mission at the Canadian summit appeared to be chaos. And it didn’t stop when he left, as he later publicly backed out of his agreement to join the other six nations in signing a communique outlining shared principles at its conclusion. He blamed the host of the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for the U.S. withdrawal, calling Trudeau “very dishonest & weak” after he criticized White House trade policies at the summit’s closing news conference.
Trump had earlier rattled top allies in the G7 with startling statements such as a proposal that all the nations drop all their tariffs and trade restrictions even as he has risked a global trade war by imposing U.S. tariffs on a variety of products.
“I don’t know if they were surprised with President Trump’s free-trade proclamation, but they certainly listened to it and we had lengthy discussions about that,” Larry Kudlow, Trump’s top economic advisor, told reporters.
Trump denied he was leaving the summit early because of tensions within the group and said his relationships with the other leaders “is a 10.
But in his comments to reporters he ripped into his G7 counterparts, saying the U.S. is “like the piggy bank that everybody’s robbing, and that ends.” He vowed to control Iran’s nuclear ambitions “with or without them” and warned other members to drop their trade barriers with the U.S.
“It’s going to stop or we’re going to stop trading with them,” Trump said. “If they retaliate, they’re making a mistake.”
Trudeau, who hosted the G7 at a resort in Charlevoix, Quebec, told reporters that the summit was a success.
But he acknowledged that Trump, who at that very moment was tweeting warnings from Air Force One to Canada and other nations not to retaliate against his trade actions, did not leave happy.
“If the expectation was that a weekend in beautiful Charlevoix, surrounded by all sorts of lovely people, was going to transform the president’s outlook on trade and the world, then we didn’t quite perhaps meet that bar,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau said he and Trump clashed on trade, and he vowed that Canada would go ahead with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products on July 1 if steel and aluminum tariffs aren’t dropped.
“I have made it very clear to the president that it is not something we relish doing but it is something that we absolutely will do, because Canadians, we’re polite, we’re reasonable, but we also will not be pushed around,”
he said.
The U.S. and Japan refused to sign onto an agreement to take steps to address plastic pollution in the oceans, reflecting continuing tension between the Trump administration and America’s allies over climate change and other global environmental challenges.
But Trudeau said all seven nations had agreed to sign the communique, which outlined a shared commitment to work on a variety of economic, social, environmental and security issues. The language on trade was general, with an acknowledgement that “free, fair and mutually beneficial trade and investment … are key engines for growth and job creation” and a promise to “develop new rules where needed to foster a truly level playing field.”
”On climate change, the communique noted that all the nations except for the U.S. “reaffirm their strong commitment to implement the Paris Agreement” on climate change.
Trump later tweeted that he was pulling his support for the communique.
Based on Justin's false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!" Trump wrote.
The communique that Trump ultimately decided not to sign also included a slap at Russia, calling on Moscow "to cease its destabilizing behavior to undermine democratic systems and its support of the Syrian regime."
Trump skipped sessions on climate change and clean energy, as well as a working lunch to discuss protecting the world’s oceans, to depart early on Saturday.
Heading into the Quebec meeting, the U.S. already had strained relations with leaders of the other nations in the G7 — Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — because of Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and his threats to extend trade levies to automobiles from those nations.
Trump justifies the tariffs by accusing other nations of taking advantage of the U.S. in trade. He argues that the levies will force other nations to lower their own barriers for American goods. But the U.S. imposes tariffs and quotas of its own to protect certain products, particularly tobacco and sugar. Trump’s decision to bypass the World Trade Organization, set up to arbitrate tariff and other trade disputes, risks causing other nations to retaliate with protectionist measures that could damage the world economy.
Last year, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a sweeping Asian trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, struck by President Obama. He is threatening to walk away from the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, which is being renegotiated at Trump’s behest.
Both Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron, who talked with Trump privately in separate meetings Friday, were sharply critical of him leading up to the G7 summit.
Trudeau called Trump’s U.S. national security justification for steel and aluminum tariffs — which implies Canada is a threat — “insulting and unacceptable.”
Trump told reporters Saturday that a renegotiated NAFTA would have to contain a sunset provision allowing the deal to expire after several years. Trudeau responded at his news conference by saying Canada would not agree to a sunset clause.
The president’s suggestion that Russia be readmitted to the group also did not go over well.
“Something happened a while ago where Russia is no longer in. I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in,” Trump told reporters Saturday.
Russia was expelled from what at the time was the Group of Eight in 2014 after invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea.
“Now, I love our country. I have been Russia’s worst nightmare,” Trump said. “But with that being said, Russia should be in this meeting.”
Although Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte backed the idea, other G7 leaders dismissed it. In the U.S., key Democrats and some Republicans, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, strongly objected to allowing Russia back into the group of advanced economies.
Trump told reporters Saturday that “some people like the idea of bringing Russia back in.”
But Trudeau told reporters he did not support it, saying he told Trump that “it is not something we are even remotely interested in looking at this point.”
Trump, when pressed on whether he would require Russia to give up Crimea as a condition, indicated he wouldn’t, noting, “They spent a lot of money on rebuilding it.”
“Crimea was let go during the Obama administration.… He allowed Russia to take Crimea. I may have had a much different attitude,” Trump said. “With that being said, it’s been done a long time.”
Source of above article from LA Times
Not only did Trump show disrespect to the best allies the US has had over the decades
by showing up late, he insulted all those working hard to maintain global security, peace and prosperity with lies and punative, illegal tarrifs. To add insult to injury he refused to sign the most logical agreement to cooperate for global peace, he left the meeting early, without participating in the discussion about the most urgent global problem facing the world, Climate Change, at a time when the polar ice cap
has been melting at three times the rate in the last decade.
Trump showed his cowardice, for the whole world to see, at the G7.
"I owe NOTHING to our allies" Trump proclaimed. Trump is doing all he can
to dismantle Obama's significant and far reaching accomplishments both on the world
stage and domestically; constantly boasting about how wonderful he is and how much
more he has accomplished in a short time than any president in history. Truth is
he has done more damage to both domestic and international affairs in the history of the United States. In actuality Trump is unfit to be Obama's shoeshine boy and his incompetence and immorality in all matters from personal realtions to government affairs, he is unfit to visit the White House, much less to occupy it.
Reality is you owe civility, respect and honesty to allies and foes alike. Behaving like an ill tempered boor reflects on the nation you represent.
Trump the great businessman who couldn't even succeed as a casino owner now thinks he can run a country. Who ever goes bankrupt owning a casino? It takes Brobdingnagian incompetence to bankrupt a business with guaranteed profits on every transaction.
Translating total ignorance and incompetence to the world stage, it completely escapes Trump that the miniscule trade imbalances he keeps whing about are keeping
America important and rich. Squeezing the life blood out of emerging economies produces
disproportionate imbalances, frequently leading to revolt and war. Helping the world
prosper is like using an ounce of prevention to preempt an tonne of cure. It is difficult to comprehend how a morally and intelectually bankrupt boor like Trump can
continue destroying the world. Congress is abdicating its constitutional responsibility
as if under a witches spell. Calling Trump supporters stupid is actually insulting to stupid. When Trump gives a rambling incoherent speech filled with lies, divisive nonsense and hatred, as he usually does, his supporters consider it a success if dosn't drool or wet himself in the process. Knowing full well that every word the man
utters is a lie that will hurt virtually everyone and supporting such evil unconditionally is as close to insane as I can imagine anyone can be. A man openly lining his pockets at the expense of the working poor is unfit to breathe the air
that sustains life in this world.
Prime Minister Trudeau, one of the most respected world leaders stood up to the bully.
“I have made it very clear to the president that it is not something we relish doing but it is something that we absolutely will do, because Canadians, we’re polite, we’re reasonable, but we also will not be pushed around,”
Standing up for all Canadians has earned new respect for Trudeau and all
Canadians around the world, including the USA. Even if you lose the fight you can do it in a dignified way, or achieve the same result in a whimpering cowardly manner.
The vast majority of the world stands with the Canadian sentiment. In reality Trudeau
is in good company. Trump attacks all that is noble and worthy of respect in our world, from the justice system, science, the media, honest politicians to the Pope.
The media is the voice of the people. Calling the media fake news or claiming its the greatest threat to security is typical of all tyrants.
The pretext for leaving the meeting is to meet Kim Jong Un of North Korea, the mass murderous dictator considered guilty of crimes against humanity by the civilized world.
Trump's almost worship of tyrannical despots while denigrating the most loyal allies is inexplicable.
Trump is undertaking the role of a junior diplomat to start negotions on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Presidential level summits are usually the pinnacle of years long negotions that establish clear goals, verifiable results and agreements, requiring nothing more than
the signature of the principals. Trump knows nothing about the task he is undertaking
or how to achieve any meaningful results, his participation is a mere photo op.
I am willing to be surprised and give full credit if proven wrong; but if Trump
achieves even 1% of what the Iran agreement achived I will be extremely surprised.
You need more than a know nothing tyranical whiner to conduct international
negotiations. Being a pahological liar may fool the "deplorables" at home but
produces nothing more than ridicule and derision on the wold stage.
Following the historic meeting the world has been left wondering if the
"great negotiator" achived anything? Trump made huge consessions with nothing
in reciprical concessions by Kim. Trump caved as usual, with no positive outcome
from the summit. There are no deliverables from North Korea for all the concessions
Trump gave away. Trump gave away everything but the keys to the White House in return for the same decades old empty promises North Korea failed to deliver on over the years.
Making irrational claims easily proven false are hardly accomplishments but
Trump supporters ignore reality and facts for his constant boasting about success.
One year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, many are still without the
basic necessities like electricity and drinking water; yet Trump gave himself an A+ rating for the response. Some accomplishments Trump brags about are regulations that he, his administration, have done away with are killing people
for meager profit increases, all going to the wealthy. Poisoning the air we breathe,
the water we drink, while causing irreperable damage to the environment are only
considered accomplishments by the most ignorant and dishonest in the world.
Separating children from their parents as they cross the US border to seek freedom
and justice are not the actions of a sane leader but those of the most evil and barbaric
thug. Conress fears this immoral goon and fails to carry out their constitutional
responsibility of rational control over irrational leadership.
Trump is notorious for his "filing system": when he is finished with a piece of paper, he tears it into tiny pieces and throws it away, which is fine if you're a CEO (maybe), but is radioactively illegal under the Presidential Records Act, because the President works for the public, and is required by law to archive their official papers and save them for public scrutiny. Every scrap of paper created during the
President's tenure, however insignificant is considered an official record, by law.
In addition Trump is using his personal unsecured cell phone which can be eavesdropped on by friend and foe alike. Clinton used a private server that was never hacked (according to all investigations) and
Trump screamed his head off about such indiscretion along with Republicans.
Where is the outrage about the illegal destruction of Presidential records? or the use of an unsecured phone? They swore to uphold the constitution but refuse to curtail the
tyranical ill tempred Trump's condemnable illegal activities, even the emoluments, clearly defined in the US constitution. Calling those willing to support this immoral monster "deplorable" is an insult to deplorables.
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