Trump calls for Russian Federation to be readmitted to G8, European Union rejects it

That set the tone. But it must be both.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte – a rookie populist who’s been on the job only a week – fuelled the disharmony amongst the G7 by tweeting his support for the USA president’s position.

Trump repeatedly praised Putin during the 2016 campaign.

Among them are Trump’s first national security adviser, as well as his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, who was expected in US federal court on June 8 amid allegations that he sought to tamper with witnesses in Mueller’s probe. The event brings together the world’s foremost economic powerhouses, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Then Trump upped the ante.

The early exit also means he will be gone before allies begin closing news conferences likely to be laden with criticism of the USA stance on trade and Trump’s abrupt suggestion on Friday that Russian Federation be re-admitted to the elite grouping.

Over his objections, USA lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a sweeping sanctions bill past year that imposed tough new punishments on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine, Syria, and other matters. Maybe with Mr. Putin, they could form a G5 plus three.

U.S. President Donald Trump charged into a summit of major industrialized nations on Friday for contentious trade talks, injecting fresh drama into an already tense meeting by calling for the reinstatement of Russian Federation, which was ousted for its annexation of Crimea. The claim is part of his argument for imposing the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which Trump says will reduce the United States’ trade deficit with its top trading partners.

Trudeau told reporters the USA national security justification for the tariffs on steel and aluminum was “laughable”.

He warned it is “evident” that Mr Trump and the rest of the G7 were at loggerheads over trade, climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. Ottawa argues the Americans’ heavy dairy subsidies are the equivalent of a 354-per-cent tariff. On Friday, he cited Canada’s 270 percent tariff on American milk.

“We should at least consider no tariffs, no barriers – scrapping all of it”, Trump said, according to officials who were listening and taking notes. He wants Wisconsin farmers to see him complaining about Canada.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland called the tariffs “illegal and absolutely unjustified”.

“They understand. They’re trying to act like, “Well, we fought with you in the wars” but they don’t mention the fact that they have trade barriers against our farmers, they don’t mention the fact that they’re charging nearly 300-per-cent tariffs”. It could be with Canada, with Mexico, one on one – much simpler agreement, much easier to do.

But rhetoric on all sides has only become more heated, and Macron took it to another level in his Twitter post on Thursday.

European Council president Donald Tusk threw cold water on Trump’s inflammatory comments, quipping “seven is a lucky number”. Mr. Trump is a constant surprise.

But Tusk also said the tensions within the G7 now are a serious challenge to its unity and effectiveness. “Quite surprisingly, it’s not by the usual suspects, but by its main architect and guarantor”.

“Whether you like it or not – and it may not me politically correct – but we have a world to run…”

Canada and other allies have vigorously pushed back, arguing that trade between the USA and its allies has no impact on national security.