The G7 Summit was an absolute disaster for Donald Trump, the United States, and for pretty much everyone. Trump lost a handshake battle, launched a worldwide caption contest, came late, and left early.
He pretty much pouted the whole time, when he wasn’t begging everyone to embrace Putin.
But somehow, the Group of Seven pushed through, came together, and got some work done.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that all members of the Group of Seven (G-7) had signed on to a joint statement, ending speculation that the United States could be excluded from such a communique.
"I’m happy to announce that we’ve released a joint communique by all seven countries," Trudeau said in closing remarks at the G-7 summit in Charlevoix, Canada.
The group of industrialized democracies — the U.S., France, Canada, Italy, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom — traditionally issues a joint communique at the conclusion of their annual summit.
The communique wasn’t a complete consensus—not everyone would agree to reduce their plastic waste, for instance, and Trump pushed back on climate change language, but trade was definitely at the forefront of the document.
The document says that they "acknowledge free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade is a key engine for engine for growth and jobs", and commits the G7 to modernise the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The statement also says that the countries will work to promote low or no tariffs in order to promote trade between the countries — in spite of Mr Trump's insistence on tariffs in recent months.
Among the concerns the communique acknowledges are excesses of steel capacity, and of the danger of excesses in the development of aluminium and high technology. The group agreed that they need to evaluate international trade rules, and to develop new ones if necessary going forward to ensure an equal trading playing field.
It’s not much, but it’s not nothing. Yet before anyone could relax for a second, Trudeau reiterated Canada’s continued plan to implement retaliatory tariffs, beginning July 1.
Less than ninety minutes later, using that sweet Air Force One wifi, Trump lashed out with his thumbs, as Trump does.
A minute later, Trump implied that Trudeau played some kind of bait and switch game on him, drawing him in with a fake, cowering version of himself.
Maybe you shouldn’t have left so early, Donnie.