Posted on 06/07/2018 10:42:19 AM PDT by mandaladon
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations headed for a summit in Canada on Thursday more divided than at any time in the group’s 42-year history, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies risk causing a global trade war and deep diplomatic schisms.
In a bid to rebuild America’s industry, Trump has imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, including those from key G7 allies like Canada, Japan and the European Union.
He has threatened to use national security laws to do the same for foreign car imports and has walked back on environmental agreements and an international deal to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb.
Trump will arrive in Canada on Friday, on the way to Singapore where he hopes to strike a historic nuclear deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The U.S. president is in no mood for compromise over trade and now has frosty relations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the summit host. Pleas by the other member countries for exemptions from the steel and aluminum tariffs, which went into effect on June 1, have fallen on deaf ears in Washington.
But rather than seek a fight with Trump at the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron made an appeal for productive discussion.
“In this environment, above all we always have to stay polite, stay productive and try to convince (them), to keep the United States on board because they are our historical ally and we need them,” Macron told a news conference held with Trudeau in Ottawa on Friday.
But he urged the other industrialized countries to stick together.
“We must not fall apart. The six other nations of the G7 represent a market that is larger than the American market,” Macron said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
They’ve used the tariffs on us to improve their political positions and to the benefit of their people. They don’t want our products, and especially if they’re going to be more expensive. Trump is the only American leader who sees through this.
He’s also a student of history, and knows that we’ve had periods of sustained prosperity when we’re on a level playing field.
In summary, Trump is the true globalist. He wants to see no tariffs. None.
Ouch; that's gotta hurt!
The Euroweenies like Merkel got whatever they wanted in 8 years, raping us economically.
Gravy train is over bitches.
They can pick a fight, or be productive, or renegotiate deals so that America isn't on the losing end - up to them.
It is interesting that neither Iran nor Obama signed the “nuclear agreement deal” yet it is considered to be so important.
LOL
I think it is from his first G7 summit last year.
“Reducing tariffs would help both sides.”
True.
Tariffs are economically destructive and trade wars suck for all sides.
But you can’t always avoid war and you have to have weapons and be ready to use them. In trade wars tariffs are your best weapons - hopefully only used in self defense or as a deterrent.
If our trading partners are pointing their weapons at us, we have to whip ours out and say “If you lower your weapon, I’ll lower my weapon.”
The LSM is just relentless in its propaganda push to discredit the best President of my adult life.
They really should have their press credential pulled.
Nothing strange about it. Trump does not like wasting his time and neither does any smart business man. G7 think they are the boss. They have a lot to learn.
They need us; we don’t need them at all.
Nothing was more embarrassing than watching Odumbo throwing out the 1st pitch at a White Sox game. It was more feminine than most women I know.
Bet the Chicago Bathhouses loved Obama in Mom Jeans.
Not even a strongly-worded letter? Thought so. Confront wusses and they fold.
Our so called allies in Europe need to realize that their days of $crewing over Americans in trade are now over.
They can come and negotiate fairly and avoid trade wars, or they can cost their countries Billions of $'s in trade and millions of jobs in Eurotrash countries and Canada/Mexico.
To understand our President when it comes to no more economical $crewing Americans, they need to understand what my tagline clearly states.
The foreigners are never polite to the US. They accuse us of all kinds of heinous acts and call us all kinds of names.
I think we ought to turn off GPS and the Internet for the rest of the world and let them create their own environments.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.