G7 makes ‘substantial progress’ on trade talks

Trump has yet to act on his campaign threat to ditch the Paris accord, having said he would listen to what U.S. partners have to say before making a decision on how to proceed after the G7.

Although he tweeted that he would make a decision next week, his apparent reluctance to embrace the first-ever legally binding global climate deal that was signed by 195 countries clearly annoyed German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “Here we have the situation that six members, or even seven if you want to add the European Union, stand against one”.

“President Trump’s continued waffling on whether to stay in or withdraw from the Paris Agreement made it impossible to reach consensus at the Taormina summit on the need for ambitious climate action”.

Many suspect President Trump-who previously called global warming a hoax, is trying to use the climate change issue as leverage in other debates but his decision left a sour taste with leaders and diplomats who are having to revisit an issue they hoped they had sorted.

Trump used his trip to promote “America First” policies, promoting $110 billion worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and telling G-7 allies that the United States needs a more level playing field on trade.

G7 leaders on Friday found common cause on combatting terrorism after the bloodshed in Manchester but failed to bridge a gulf between Donald Trump and US partners on trade and climate change.

Leaders of the G7 group of nations, which includes the Unted States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, as well as the European Union, are meeting at Taormina from May 26-27.

On trade, the G7 managed to bash out a bland statement that vows to fight protectionism but seemed to take a nod to Mr. Trump’s view that the global trading rule book is stacked against American interest.

Trump’s economic adviser Gary Cohn said Trump’s views on climate were “evolving” and that he would ultimately do what was best for the United States.

President Trump rounded out his first foreign trip since taking office by joining other G7 leaders as they walked the streets of Taormina, Sicily.

“It was a tremendously productive meeting where I strengthen American bonds”, said Trump.

Macron praised Trump’s “capacity to listen” and said “I found someone who is open and willing to deal well with us”.

The French leader says he believes the arguments made by the six other members enabled Trump to understand the importance of that issue and the necessity the Paris agreement for the USA economy.

Cohn hinted at that prospect as he briefed reporters Thursday night as Air Force One flew from Brussels to Sicily, the final stop on Trump’s trip.

“I think the G-7 was very significant in terms of him learning about what we have discussed before, ” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, asked to comment on how Trump’s arrival had changed the group’s dynamic.

German weekly Der Spiegel quoted Mr Trump as saying in a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday that Germans were “very bad” regarding vehicle exports to the US.

Iain Keith, campaign director of Avaaz, an activist network, said: “Today, G6 leaders put our planet first, showing that even the USA president can not stop the inevitable clean energy revolution”.

Host nation Italy had hoped to talk about Europe’s migration crisis and problems in Africa, Reuters reported; on Saturday leaders from five African nations joined the summit. Trump’s short-sighted actions could make the U.S. into a pariah state.