Trade issues remain after the latest G7 meeting in Canada.
Reuters: Trump demands end to ‘unfair’ trade after G7 summit
U.S. President Donald Trump told Group of Seven leaders that the United States wanted a quick end to trade practices that he says have led to an exodus of American companies and jobs to other countries.
This is someone who has been slapping tariffs on and threatening tariffs all over the place. And someone who pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership as soon as he became president.
Trump, who angered his G7 partners last week with tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, the European Union and Mexico as part of his “America First” agenda, vowed to hold firm until U.S. goods had “fair” access to markets.
“The United States has been taken advantage of for decades and decades,” Trump said at a press conference on the second day of a two-day summit in Canada.
He said he had suggested to the other G7 leaders that all trade barriers, including tariffs and subsidies, be eliminated.
So why doesn’t he lead by example? otherwise this looks like posturing bullshit.
Reuters: G7 leaders on track for joint communique: French official
The leaders of the Group of Seven nations are on track to agree a joint communique when their summit ends later on Saturday, a French presidency official said, a day after diplomats cited deep splits over the proposed text.
The official though said the document would make clear that on topics such as the environment, the United States did not share the point of view of the other six members.
In a bid to ease tensions over trade, in particular U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum that infuriated other G7 members, officials were working on language about the international rules-based system that would lead the way to reforming the World Trade Organization, the official said.
It looks like the communique will try to paper over obvious cracks.
Reuters: Merkel says differences on trade remain despite joint G7 communique
Leaders of the G7 countries will stress the importance of rules-based trade in a joint communique but there were still differences between Europe and the United States on the issue, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday.
“For us it was important that we have a commitment to a rule-based trade order, that we continue to fight against protectionism and that we want to reform the World Trade Organization,” Merkel told reporters after G7 talks in Quebec.
Merkel said there was a broad agreement among G7 leaders that tariffs and other trade barriers should be reduced.
“These are jointly shared principles, although the pitfalls lie in the detail,” she said.
The detail – al the exceptions to free trade?
Maybe some progress has been made at G7 but it’s not apparent.
David
/ 10th June 2018““For us it was important that we have a commitment to a rule-based trade order, that we continue to fight against protectionism and that we want to reform the World Trade Organization,” Merkel told reporters ”
Eh? Merkel presides over the EU, which is intentionally a protectionist trade block?
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018you know’ free trade’ is but a…theory David.
David
/ 10th June 2018No I don’t.
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018where can we find it…then.
David
/ 10th June 2018This morning I freely purchased a drink. That was free trade.
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018was it a free ..drink though.
David
/ 10th June 2018It was a free trade.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 10th June 2018The EU attended so of course no progress was made. That was what they were there for.
Pete George
/ 10th June 2018MaureenW
/ 10th June 2018Ha, ha – looks like Trump is not playing “the rules-based international order” game.
Corky
/ 10th June 2018They say Trump is a bully!!!???
Gezza
/ 10th June 2018Look at Bolton. Probably already thinking of recommending Trump attacks Germany.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 10th June 2018Have they got enough troops there?
Gezza
/ 10th June 2018He’s probably thinking nukes. Seeing it looks like they won’t get to chuck some old ones at Kim.
David
/ 10th June 2018“Have they got enough troops there?”
They don’t need many, Germany does not have a functional military.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 10th June 2018I know. But an occupational force needs numbers.
Corky
/ 10th June 2018Yeah, that is a great picture. So much for the belief these leaders sit around the table and have rational dialogue . The way Merkle is closing on a petulant Trump may have spooked Bolton into action.
Gezza
/ 10th June 2018It’s an awesome picture. 😀
Gotta go out to an uncle’s 80th in Upper Hutt. Putting on the riot gear right now.
Behave please.
Corky
/ 10th June 2018I will be gentle on Lurchy and Blazer.
Corky
/ 10th June 2018Love the look on the Japanese delegation. What are they thinking?
” Bloody Roundeyes? ”
Gezza
/ 10th June 2018Function went well. No arrests.
Conspiratoor
/ 10th June 2018Merkel clearly doesn’t understand body language.
It’s reasonable to assume she has said something with which Donald disagrees. All she needed to do was give him something to hold like a pen or refreshment. This forces him to unfold his arms and lean forward thereby moving him into a more receptive position
Joe Bloggs
/ 10th June 2018Merkel, Abe, and Macron – the real leaders of the modern free world.
Corky
/ 10th June 2018Are you taking the piss, Bloggs.
Kitty Catkin
/ 10th June 2018The body language in this photo is a classic, textbook illustration of body language.,
Griff
/ 10th June 2018The four leaning over the table are giving trump a message from a position of authority. Trump is sitting up straight with arms crossed receiving that message like a petulant child on a stool in the principles office.
The guy to the left of japan is looking at the camera thinking You getting this? Good picture. The guy to the right is looking at trump like, gee mate are you in trouble. The Japanese guy himself is not happy about the confrontation but shows no surprise…. he expected it.
The fact that her office released the photo suggest they are reinforcing the message that was given to Trump.
“We have a new word in German to describe you, Mr. Trump: Mankindertweetfuhrer. It means ‘man-baby dictator who rules via Twitter.’
Alan Wilkinson
/ 10th June 2018No. Everyone is looking at Merkel, not Trump. He has made his response and she is trying to figure out what it means.
Zedd
/ 10th June 2018body language sez it all..
‘who cares what you are all demanding.. Ive got the power !” sez Mr T
Zedd
/ 10th June 2018looks like Abe is ‘right, with him too’
Kitty Catkin
/ 10th June 2018It looks as if he’s pointlessly wasting the time of all these people and really, really annoying them. He’s enjoying holding them all up and throwing his weight around and it’s very obvious that he has little idea of how these conferences work.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 10th June 2018Take a look at the frown lines on Trudeau’s face. He’s got a message he doesn’t like. And Trump’s got a faint smile on his lips. Merkel is trying to read him but he’s not having it.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 10th June 2018Or is that Macron not Trudeau on Merkel’s right?
Gezza
/ 10th June 2018It’s Macron, the runt.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 11th June 2018So I wonder what his wrinkled brow is stressing over.
Kitty Catkin
/ 11th June 2018Trump is being obnoxious, everyone else is wishing that he’d grow up and stop behaving like the smart-arse who wasted everyone’s time at school.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 11th June 2018I bet Trudeau’s brow is pretty wrinkled now too.
Gezza
/ 11th June 2018His eyebrows are raised. He’s just struggling to believe they have to explain everything to an idiot who hasn’t a fucking clue & doesn’t give a bugger.
Pete George
/ 10th June 2018Gezza
/ 10th June 2018It’s probably about time everyone really did start thinking about whether the American piggy bank should be the only one in the game.
Pete George
/ 10th June 2018The dishonest pot speaking again.
This won’t help trade and NAFTA negotiations with Canada. And pissing off other world leaders could come back to bite the US in other ways too.
MaureenW
/ 10th June 2018Could there be a bigger poofter than Trudeau – don’t know about dishonest, but he sure comes across and weak (pathetic?)
justin-trudeau-india-922823
MaureenW
/ 10th June 2018The image didn’t want to display, but dressed up in Indian costume embarrassing both countries at the same time.
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018stale news’.
so which world leader could take on the ‘poofter’….
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/trudeau-steps-into-the-boxing-ring-at-historic-n-y-gym-1.2869476
MaureenW
/ 10th June 2018Those images never become stale – He does seem to like dressing up and looks pathetic irrespective of the outfit.
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018leaders in native costume…not an uncommon occurence…
https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-11/11/11/enhanced/webdr07/enhanced-buzz-27149-1415723092-11.jpg?downsize=715:*&output-format=auto&output-quality=auto
MaureenW
/ 10th June 2018So what is your point, dressing up in costumes you wouldn’t normally be seen dead in is somehow cool?
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018well Maureen Justin T is dressed up’ as a boxer because he jumped in the ring…and kicked..arse.
MaureenW
/ 10th June 2018Pity he didn’t wear it to the G7 then.
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/tag/gay-shirt/
High Flying Duck
/ 10th June 2018Watching Trudeau trying to box was like watching John Key try to hammer a nail.
Blazer
/ 10th June 2018you should see W.O trying to box…leads with the chin..all over in under 60secs…should hand in his man card…big girls..blouse.
phantom snowflake
/ 10th June 2018Zedd
/ 10th June 2018The dishonest pot speaking again.
‘I cant remember if my plants are this tall or maybe this ?” 😀 😀