The Group of Seven (G7) will hold a meeting of foreign ministers in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada. The recent imposition of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports by U.S. President Trump has triggered retaliatory measures from Canada and the European Union. Additionally, Washington’s policy shift towards the conflict in Ukraine has intensified divisions within the G7, raising uncertainties about whether the allies can reach a consensus during the meeting.
On Thursday, ministers from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the European Union will gather in the quaint mountain town of La Malbaie in Quebec for a two-day meeting.
One of the focal points of concern for G7 allies is to hear a briefing from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his recent meetings with officials from Saudi Arabia in Jeddah and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have indicated their readiness to support a 30-day ceasefire agreement.
Ahead of the first meeting as Canada holds the rotating G7 presidency, efforts to draft a joint final statement among the countries have proven to be challenging.
The U.S. decision to impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports has prompted immediate countermeasures from Canada and the EU, highlighting heightened tensions.
Washington has sought to set red lines in the language regarding Ukraine in the G7 statement, opposing the issuance of an independent statement by G7 to curb Russia’s “shadow fleet,” an opaque shipping network that evades sanctions.
Simultaneously, the U.S. has called for a tougher stance on Beijing in the statement.
On Monday, Rubio stated that Washington does not want language that could undermine peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine.
During a press interview on Wednesday, he mentioned that a good G7 statement should acknowledge the U.S.’s efforts in pushing for an end to the conflict.
Diplomats from G7 indicated that the positive outcomes of the Jeddah meeting could at least ease discussions concerning the Ukraine issue.
Since Trump’s return to office on January 20, the U.S. has taken a series of actions with the aim of swiftly reaching an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Washington has also called on European partners to take on more security responsibilities.
Trump has also announced plans to impose tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and has hinted multiple times that he wishes for Canada to become the 51st state, leading to strained relations between the U.S. and Canada.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated on Wednesday that she would raise the issue of tariffs at the G7 meeting.
She said, “I will bring up the tariff issue at every meeting, coordinate responses with European allies, and put pressure on the United States.”
European diplomats expressed their desire to leverage the G7 meeting to assess Rubio’s influence over U.S. foreign policy.
(Reference: This article draws from relevant reports by Reuters)