G7 diplomats meet in Canada as trade war with US intensifies

Top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialised democracies gathered in Canada on Thursday as US President Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policies have thrown the bloc’s once solid unity into disarray.

The escalating trade war adds to uncertainty over relations between the US and its closest allies, which have already been strained by Trump’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

It also likely means US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hear a litany of complaints as he meets with the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan over the next two days.

All of them have been angered by the new American president’s policies.

“Peace and stability is at the top of our agenda, and I look forward discussing how we continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal aggression,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said.

No winners in this war: Guterres

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that “all will lose” when countries get into trade wars, against the backdrop of tariff wars unleashed by the Trump administration.