G-7 Summit Gets Its Communique But Only Papers Over Trade Spats
- Trade dominated a two-day summit of rich nations in Quebec
- Trudeau says he told Trump steel tariffs insult Canadians
Photographer: Cole Burston/Bloomberg
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Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations who threatened to confront President Donald Trump for slapping them with tariffs ended their annual summit with a vague commitment to keep talking on trade, failing to secure major concessions from the U.S. leader.
G-7 leaders on Saturday struggled through two days of behind-the-scenes tension to secure the traditional release of a closing communique. That statement highlighted the crucial role of a rules-based trading system, which was important to Europe, while also underscoring the importance of free, fair and reciprocal trade -- borrowing vocabulary often used by Trump.