The Group of Seven is kicking off with more Donald Trump threats on trade, queuing up a whirlwind 24 hours of talks between allies before the U.S. president leaves early.
“Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!” the president wrote on Twitter, hours before he’s due to arrive in Quebec. “I am heading for Canada and the G-7 for talks that will mostly center on the long time unfair trade practiced against the United States.”
Other leaders, such as France’s Emmanuel Macron, have warned they won’t sign a joint statement that bows to Trump’s wishes. “The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be,” he tweeted.
The G-7 summit is set up to be the most acrimonious in years, putting pressure on Justin Trudeau as host to bridge a divide between Trump and Europe, with Japan’s Shinzo Abe poised to fall somewhere in the middle. Trump will leave the summit early to attend a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.