World leaders participating in the Group of Seven summit in Canada urged US President Donald Trump to reconsider his aggressive approach to trade, warning that it threatens global economic stability.
During a summit where host Canada aimed to avoid provoking Trump's ire, and with a focus on Middle Eastern events, the leaders still pressed the US president to abandon his plans to implement even higher tariffs on countries worldwide as soon as next month.
Most nations represented at the G7 are already facing a 10 percent baseline tariff enacted by Trump, with additional tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminum affecting European countries and Japan.
G7 leaders took the opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with Trump, advocating for him to finalize agreements that would mitigate the most severe threats of US tariffs.
In official sessions, the leaders cautioned Trump that these tariffs could inflict significant damage on the global economy.
Several attendees called for an end to the tariff conflict at the earliest opportunity.
They contended that the dispute undermines the economies of the G7 and "ultimately will only empower China," according to an official.
Trump took advantage of the meeting to officially sign a previously announced deal with Britain, the first country to achieve a trade agreement with the US to avoid the looming tariffs.
"I like them. That's the ultimate protection," Trump shared with reporters following his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G7.
During a press conference to commemorate the deal, Trump opened a folder to reveal the signed agreement, but the documents slipped out and fell across the ground.
The trade situation is of pressing concern for Canada after the Trump administration unveiled additional tariffs on Canadian imports in recent months, creating significant uncertainty for the economic future of America’s northern neighbor.
Following a discussion between Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Canadian government suggested that both parties might be able to establish a trade truce within the next month.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba informed reporters in Canada that he engaged in a 30-minute conversation with Trump, exploring solutions "that align with Japan's national interests," as stated by Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
"As there are still some points where both sides disagree, we have not reached an agreement on the package as a whole," Ishiba remarked.
There were expectations that non-G7 nations attending the meeting on Tuesday would also have a chance to meet with Trump, but those hopes were thwarted by the US leader's decision to shorten his attendance due to the situation in Iran.
Leaders from South Korea, India, Brazil, and South Africa will travel to the summit at a Canadian Rockies resort after Trump's departure.
Numerous countries are engaged in discussions with Washington to secure a trade agreement before the US imposes punitive reciprocal tariffs, set to take effect on July 9.
Mexico, whose president Claudia Sheinbaum was also anticipated at the summit, is looking to renegotiate its trilateral North American free trade agreement that includes Canada.
Also Read: Mixed Thoughts Unfurl Among Leaders Globally Over Trump's Tariff Pause
While there was little expectation that the summit would result in a significant advancement in trade negotiations between the US and the rest of the world, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was part of Trump's team.