world

G7 leaders must not be intimidated by Trump, say Macron and Trudeau

74 Comments
By ludovic MARIN

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2018 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

74 Comments
Login to comment

Don’t be intimidated- drop your trade barriers.

Biggest economy in the world. Biggest victim complex in the world.

23 ( +28 / -5 )

An overwhelming majority of Americans are with you, President Macron and Prime Minister Trudeau.

Believe me, we are so respected in the world right now. We never been more respected. So much respect. What an insane delusional President we have.

19 ( +25 / -6 )

"It is laughable to say that Canada, France... can represent a threat to America's national security, as we are the best allies that the US has had for a long time," Trudeau said.

He is right. Sadly the American people live in Trump's world, and they are going to be paying the price for his mouth!

17 ( +22 / -5 )

Good. Don't give up one centimeter to the bully in chief.

13 ( +19 / -6 )

The G6 needs to stand up to Trump and his threats. Perhaps it is time to suspend the US membership in the G7 and make it the G6. The world needs to stand up to tyrants!

12 ( +19 / -7 )

G7 leaders must not be intimidated by Trump, say Macron and Trudeau

Comey said mostly the same thing to the G7 as well.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

So weak that 2 of them have to team up to try to get even more people to “stand up” to Trump.

Where did you get the idea that the other four hadn't already been of the same opinion? There is literally no indication whatsoever on the stances of the other countries. All we have is the comments from the two people who were doing the joint-press conference, without the other leaders.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Sad how America is now an isolated hermit kingom, complete with a cult of personality leader and the rest of the world looking at it with disdain.

The G7 must prepare to do battle with and defeat the Great Satan in the trade wars. It's the only way to deal with a bully.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

The main threat to U.S. national security, and the wellbeing of We the People of the United States of America, is Donald J. Trump and his trade policies.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Really? Why do most countries invest 25% to half of their investments in the US?

complete with a cult of personality leader and the rest of the world looking at it with disdain.

Have we ever cared what the world thinks of us? No.

So what. Money isn't the be all and end all of a country's success or reputation. Countries invest in China, Russia and many otherwise undesirable countries. It doesn't mean that the investors like or trust them.

The US is becoming a pariah state to countries that are/were allies. How screwed up and stupid do you have to be to turn allies against you?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Trump said he is leaving early anyway haha

Yeah, Donnie always takes his ball and goes home when people call him out on his BS.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

 no giving away our taxpayer money.

Blew IT already. GILTI.

MAGA, Trump is confusing me again, does he want to send America back to 1929 or 1812? Or is he shooting for 1861.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Sad how America is now an isolated hermit kingom, complete with a cult of personality leader and the rest of the world looking at it with disdain.

Very sad. But maybe in the long run, necessary. It's like a drug addict - they need to crash before they can heal. I'm thinking (hoping?) in the long run, Trump will be the crash that gets the country to really take an objective look at their history and actions in the modern world. When he pardons himself, that may be the last straw for the people.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

No, it was OBAMA's personal deal

You people can try to make the ridiculous claim that an agreement between the elected (by the majority at that) leader of a nation, speaking on behalf of his nation, made with other nations, is a personal deal that the rest of the country has no obligation to continue, but don't expect the rest of the world to fall in line with your delusions.

Whether you like it or not, when one president of America makes a deal, and the next president of America says 'oh that was his deal, I'm not going to bother with it', the rest of the world sees 'America cannot be trusted to upload their deals. Rather, they will claim "a deal is a deal", when it's clear they don't believe that at all'.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

 no giving away our taxpayer money. sorry but that was given away decades ago, AMerica struggles to pay for the interest on its loans, now Trumps $1Trillion tax cut is expected to cost the taxpayer around $1.5Trillion over the next ten years, you cant give away whats already been spent.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Trump said he is leaving early anyway haha

Just following in the grand tradition of bad timing. US arriving late to 2 world wars and overstaying their "welcome" in too many countries.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

when America wants to be treated fairly in trade or have things in the best interest our our country

America is asking to be treated above fairly, and in your quest for the best interests of your country, you've forgotten that to come to an agreement, you also have to give considerations to the best interests of the other country as well, or else there is no agreement. You also have to consider your position - if you are in the strongest economy in the world, and you are crying 'poor me, we're getting screwed', well don't expect people with a brain to think that you have any credibility on what you are crying.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Interesting fact check on taxes and tariffs :

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/mar/02/donald-trump/trump-exaggerates-economic-burden-export-tariffs-s/

"So our producers do face ‘very high’ taxes in many markets," said Gene Grossman, a professor of international economics at Princeton. "However, the local producers also face these taxes when they sell locally, so the taxes do not disadvantage the United States producers relative to the local producers."

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Pains me to say, but the tariff situation is a short-term win-win for Trump - if the g6 buckle, he'll look like the negotiator he promised he would be, and if they go against him then he'll play the victim card, which will go down well with his base -

4 ( +4 / -0 )

TumbleDryToday 07:21 am JST

And a few articles away you have Abe trying anything to please Donald.

That's because the other G7 nations don't have North Korea as a neighbor and need to rely on the US to solve a geopolitical problem on their doorstep.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Which is why, in the face of such extremist imperialism, it's not just the G7 leaders who need to make a stand.

Well, the world has fairly consistently resisted Trump's attempts to frame reality as being something other than what it really is. Very few have actually fallen for his BS.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

We have the largest (not necessarily strongest) economy

Exactly. Which is why we aren't buying into your 'poor me' claims.

plan to keep it that way

Then alienating all the people with whom you've worked to get there may not be the best strategy.

Because we are rich and strong, we have no responsibility to operate at negative trade deficits or accept deals that benefit the other side more than the USA

And because the combined economies of the rest of the world is so much larger than the US economy by itself, the rest of the world has no need to accept Trump's deals if/when it hurts their own economy. As can be seen by the TPP, countries will just go somewhere else.

A deal is a deal

Oh, so you disagree with Trump bowing out of the Iran deal then? If you don't, then please explain when a 'deal is a deal' and when a 'deal is not a deal', and what the differentiating factors are.

the stronger person/country usually gets more if they operate from a position of strength

Except that when compared to the economy of the non-US world, the US isn't operating from a position of strength.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

in the long run, Trump will be the crash that gets the country to really take an objective look at their history and actions in the modern world.

I sincerely hope so, but when you have his apologists applauding his every move, deception and bullying tactics, you have to wonder.

There are some who actually believe that they have some kind of divine right to dictate to the rest of the world.

Which is why, in the face of such extremist imperialism, it's not just the G7 leaders who need to make a stand.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The Iran deal was OBAMA's deal

No, the deal was America's deal. And in your words, a deal is a deal. Except that now we see you don't actually think a deal's a deal, it's only a deal unless you feel it's not a deal, then a deal isn't a deal.

We just found out Obama lied to the American people and Congress about it when he let them try to use US financial institutions to convert their money- which was against the sanctions.

I'm going to repeat a comment I made in another thread regarding this:

You gotta stop thinking that bringing up these random talking points that you guys think has some relevance, means anything to us. We're not reading the same websites as you. Feign some anger about something where we actually know what you're talking about.

As far as G7, they can band together as G6 against Trump if they want (but they wont).

Well, it may be G4 or G5 against Trump, not the full G6. Weird that you'd think it's good your president has alienated half or more of the world enconomy.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

You really gotta start reading the news before you come in here talking.

I read the news all the time. I just don't read your silly right-wing slights with the talking points.

If you want to make an argument, you'll have to learn how to actually do it. You're never going to be successful if you expect people to just believe the same gibberish you've fallen for.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The article is from the Associated Press and is truthful, nothing right wing about it.

And? I didn't see anything in it that was a problem.

Personal deal, we have a process for making it an American deal.

Once again, you can call it a personal deal all you want. Why would the rest of the world, that saw America make a deal that the democratically elected leader of America supported, ever buy into your fantasy that it was a personal deal and not one with America?

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Blacklabel: "Trump said he is leaving early anyway haha"

It's what cowards do, while their supporters "LOL" and laugh nervously. It's funniest to watch all the sour grapes you guys bandy about. No doubt you'll be turning to Fox and Friends to get some false confidence before bed and before the Twitter tirades and outright lies coming from little hands tomorrow morning.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Don't be intimidated by a minority President, failing, with the lowest ratings ever recorded, a no-talent, over-rated, facing imminent impeachment and substantial jail time.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

and would be harmed considerably if my goods were tariffed or taxed.

What, like get your fellow citizens healthcare like the rest of the G6? Get your crappy roads paved? You live in the most racist violent nation in the world that executes its own children on the alter of gun rights. To call you a developed nation increasingly strains any credibility, and the demise of the USA continues unabated. If it wasn't for Hollywood giving the world a fantasy, the reality would have driven us away long ago.

It's G6+1 as far as I'm concerned. With recent trade agreements in Europe and the CPTPP, Canada is starting to position itself away from the USA. Border states will likely agree to mutual beneficial terms after NAFTA collapses as most of their trade is with us. Many systems of trade are local and next door and won't change, but those with a chance to consider doing more abroad will be thanks to Trumpkins where before they were less likely to.

Oh, and thanks for the $640 million already to the aluminum industry. That was nice. You're industry is so inefficient that you'll still buy from us because you physically can't meet the demand.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

And a few articles away you have Abe trying anything to please Donald.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

A deal is a deal, the stronger person/country usually gets more if they operate from a position of strength.

Nobody is disputing that. That's precisely why other countries decided to team up to erode us (and china's) economical dominance.

So although Trump's "divide and conquer' strategy makes sense on paper, it's completely unrealistic to think that 200 odd nations will just bend over and take it from Trump. No one wants to fight the us one on one why would we!?

Imo Trump's pretty naive/deluded if he thinks he's calling the shots on trade (vs alliances).

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Meanwhile, when they looked for the Japanese PM to confirm his support on the issue, they could not found him until they saw him looking for soap or something around Trump.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Never have these words been said: "Don't be intimidated by Tredeau." haha

Very true, though. It's Trudeau, not Tredeau.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

that gerontophile Macron will both be booted out, As for the US, Trump will be again voted to power.

Of course, the age difference shouldn't matter. Otherwise somebody would have mentioned the similar gap between Trump and his wife.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Anyone surprised Trump begged to have Russia be let in again? Maybe they were threatening to not open a new Trump hotel in Crimea or something. Kick the US out and make it a G6. Let the US bottom out like an Ayn Rand novel, and once all the morons are gone those with talent and skills can crawl out from the wreckage and make a new and better nation. Sometimes you have to hit the bottom, as the US is heading for.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If I was a world leader like Trudeau or Macron, I'd seriously consider trying to cut a better deal with America's rivals like the Russians and the Chinese.

At the end of the day, money is all the same color.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

No, it was OBAMA's personal deal. He didnt not take it to Congress to make it a treaty in order to make it America's deal.

Getting any Trump deal through Congress might not be as easy as you think.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

BlacklabelToday 10:33 am JSTThe Iran deal was OBAMA's deal, Trump doesnt have to keep it. We just found out Obama lied to the American people and Congress about it when he let them try to use US financial institutions to convert their money- which was against the sanctions.

Trump & Pompeo are offering the same deal to the DPRK so, ... what is your point? The only difference is that this time Bolton is in the mix to gum things up for Trump's Nobel aspirations. The fur (read: whatever that thing on Trump's head is) is going to fly.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I have never heard anyone in the Trump administration say that they want a low tariff on American products

Just lower tariffs, then. Japan did that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sadly the American people live in Trump's world,

Not all, but at least 62 million :)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No, he's saving the U.S. from the globalists.

Not such a smart one as the US of A is the base of globalism :)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Like 2 schoolboys trying to work up their nerve.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

How can I vote for G6? Is there a referendum?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Strangerland: America is asking to be treated above fairly, and in your quest for the best interests of your country

Care to provide any evidence to back up that claim? I have never heard anyone in the Trump administration say that they want a low tariff on American products while simultaneously saying they want to be allowed to have high tariffs on foreign products.

America has the most open market in the world. No one can seriously dispute that. America has been carrying the global economy since WWII. Times have changed and America is a beleaguered and worn down nation with an astronomical $20 trillion national debt. The free ride had to end eventually. Instead of gratitude for decades of generous open trade America gets ingratitude and anger for its trouble. Screw the Europeans if all they want America for is as a cash cow for their exports and a free ride for their national defense.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Then Marcon is still living in a world where politicians control everything at the expense of their own people. These so called trade deals marcon and the rest of tge politicians love are nothing more than politicians colluding to siphon and scam money off trade for themselves. Trump has effectively killed this scam. Trump has threatened a tariff but opened the door to each country individually negotiating with the, US, some countries have and the result is no tariffs on either side. If the, EU, Canada and others choose not to negotiate, that's their problem. It's nit hard to make an agreement with the US that says no one will put on tariffs or trade restrictions.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The article is from the Associated Press and is truthful, nothing right wing about it. You are existing in a bubble where you dont see or hear anything if it isnt anti-Trump. That hurts your knowledge of current facts.

Personal deal, we have a process for making it an American deal. Thats called a treaty, which is voted on and approved by Congress. DACA, also a personal deal, btw.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

can macron really be trusted? a few weeks ago, in washington, he looked like trump's GF → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncJpPNQ-uZU

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The leaders will join Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and new Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Quebec for talks on Friday and Saturday.

Despite receiving the cold shoulder from other leaders, Conte will offer Trump an attentive, bigoted shoulder to lean on.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"Trump does not understand allies and friends...."

That's the whole thing, zichi, he DOES understand.

"He's sees everything has competition"

Yep, and he also sees how the U.S. has been getting the short end of the stick on past trade deals.

"He's a disruptor gone rogue"

No, he's saving the U.S. from the globalists.

Trump attends G7 summit amid backlash over tariffs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVxBs4NuG-4

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@ Ray Payne

If America closes it's free market to Japan and Europe, the results would be catastrophic to these countries.

Based on what knowledge do you base this nonsense ? :)

They can threaten retaliatory tariffs against American goods, which is an empty threat because in Europe and Japan, American goods are already taxed and tariffed by at least 20%.

So? There are good alternatives for most products produced in the US. And American companies definitely don't like to lose their market positions inn the EU and elsewhere.

America will not be harmed nearly as much by Japanese or European tariffs as these countries would be by American tariffs.

Ask Trump-voting farmers what they think about the current situation.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

CrazyJoe, I think secretly Macron is aligned with Trump. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

I love how Blacklabel and the other anti-Trumpers completely ignore Ray Payne's factual experience posted. In the hater's world, if they don't acknowledge it, it doesn't exist.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The Iran deal was OBAMA's deal, Trump doesnt have to keep it. We just found out Obama lied to the American people and Congress about it when he let them try to use US financial institutions to convert their money- which was against the sanctions.

As far as G7, they can band together as G6 against Trump if they want (but they wont). Japan and China have both agreed to buy more from the USA to decrease the trade imbalances, so what Trump is doing seems to be working.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

smithinjapan: No doubt you'll be turning to Fox and Friends to get some false confidence before bed and before the Twitter tirades and outright lies coming from little hands tomorrow morning.

No doubt a certain JT forum member will be tuning in to CNN and MSNBC to eagerly satisfy their thing for Trump’s ‘thing’ ;-). The Lefty’s here are like a dog with a bone - they can’t stop imagining about Trump’s size.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

No, it was OBAMA's personal deal. He didnt not take it to Congress to make it a treaty in order to make it America's deal.

You really gotta start reading the news before you come in here talking. This JT website alone doesnt tell you much of anything, Here you go:

https://apnews.com/27e8179cf10140dca7eb86b3488f01e2

Obama gave secret access to US financial systems, a lie to Congress and the American people who were told this would not happen due to the sanctions in place.

Trump hasnt alienated anyone, they always come back to the table with a better offer.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

The Trump hysteria by virtue signaling lightweights like Trudeau is always fun to watch. “We must not be intimidated.” Yeah keep telling yourself that brah.

The type of politics these guys represent , if I were the yanks I’d be considering them a potential danger as well, although not of course a military one. Trudeau is well out of his depths and sleeps at night telling himself it’s OTHERS not him that don’t get it. History will be the judge. Beware of sheep that think they are wolves. Sticky identity politics and collectivist morons. Quite surprised by the off the hip reaction from the JT readers. If you live here you should be well aware of what a collective looks like and where that road leads!

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Never have these words been said: "Don't be intimidated by Tredeau." haha

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

We have the largest (not necessarily strongest) economy and plan to keep it that way. Its what Obama people and the Bernie bros cant grasp. Because we are rich and strong, we have no responsibility to operate at negative trade deficits or accept deals that benefit the other side more than the USA. We are not trying to make everyone in the world equal to us by equally sharing all we have.

A deal is a deal, the stronger person/country usually gets more if they operate from a position of strength. If you owe us money you dont get to not pay just because we are the largest economy. How do you think we got that way? By having unfair deals and forgiving debts and making deals that are equal? Nope.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

An overwhelming majority of Americans are with you, President Macron and Prime Minister Trudeau.

Nope they are not. Have elections in Canada and France right now, that playboy selfie king Trudeau and that gerontophile Macron will both be booted out, As for the US, Trump will be again voted to power.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

isolated hermit kingom,

Really? Why do most countries invest 25% to half of their investments in the US?

complete with a cult of personality leader and the rest of the world looking at it with disdain.

Have we ever cared what the world thinks of us? No.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

no giving away our taxpayer money. sorry but that was given away decades ago, AMerica struggles to pay for the interest on its loans,

Bush and Obama didn’t help with that....

now Trumps $1Trillion tax cut is expected to cost the taxpayer around $1.5Trillion over the next ten years,

Funny, the Democrats seem happy with it, VERY happy in fact.

you cant give away whats already been spent.

And the GOP fell into that Democratic trap. These guys are almost as equally stupid as the Democrats.....almost.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Below was posted in Japan Today. Please pay attention as to what this man has to say.

What Trump wants is fair trade, not the one sided trade we now have with tariffs and trade barriers.

Today  09:54 am JSTPosted in: Abe promises Trump new Japanese investment in U.S.  See in context

I am an exporter running a company in Japan. I sell products to pretty much every country, from Albania to Zambia. I have been doing this for a decade, and know very much about tariffs and market access.

America's market is 100% free to my products. There are no tariffs, no fees, no VAT, not even sales tax. No other country in the world has a completely free market for imported goods. Tariffs range from a few percent in Canada and Australia, 20% to 50% in Europe, and upwards of 60% in developing countries.

Why should America's market be completely free when no one else's is? I benefit a lot from America's free market, and would be harmed considerably if my goods were tariffed or taxed. Yet, it is not fair that Japan does not allow the same access to American goods that America offers to Japanese goods.

Japan's investing more in America is a joke. America's growth right now is over 4%. Japan's growth right now is negative. Spring growth in the UK was nil. German growth has been revised downward, to 2%. Japan will invest in America out of necessity, not out of niceness to Trump.

As the world's top economy, America is the economic keystone. Economic activity in America offsets lack of activity, and poor economic management with America's trading partners. Without the income from sales to America, managing domestic spending on social programs and the like might not be possible. Domestic consumption pushed down by VAT, and other taxes is compensated for by money brought in by exports, which, in America, are not subject to the same fees or taxes.

If America closes it's free market to Japan and Europe, the results would be catastrophic to these countries. They can threaten retaliatory tariffs against American goods, which is an empty threat because in Europe and Japan, American goods are already taxed and tariffed by at least 20%. America will not be harmed nearly as much by Japanese or European tariffs as these countries would be by American tariffs.

Abe is in a tough spot, he loses no matter what he does.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Much of Japan's production subsidy for wheat is financed by taxes on imports. Japan operates a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for wheat imports, in which a higher tariff is imposed on all wheat imports that exceed a quota level. Japan's in-quota tariff for wheat is zero, while the over-quota tariff for wheat (and most, but not all, wheat products) is 55 yen/kg ($500/ton). The tariff raises the cost so much that it deters over-quota imports. MAFF, holding the sole right to import wheat within the TRQ, buys wheat at world prices and then sells the imported wheat to millers at a steep markup—almost 60 percent in 2003. The profit from this transaction (actually, a tax on imports) likely exceeds $450 million.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Trump said he is leaving early anyway haha

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

G7 leaders must not be intimidated by Trump, say Macron and Trudeau

They already are.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

He is right. Sadly the American people live in Trump's world, and they are going to be paying the price for his mouth!

Gladly!!

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

So on one hand "the world" complains when the USA chooses to not be involved in something (climate change, Iran Deal, all their Middle East wars).

But then when America wants to be treated fairly in trade or have things in the best interest our our country, all the other countries want to gang up on Trump. If we dont get involved, the USA had abdicated its leadership role in the world. Get involved, its American "imperialism" and we should mind our own business (well unless we are paying the bill, like climate change, the UN, etc)

America First, thats how its going to be until at least 2024. No bad trade deals, no giving away our taxpayer money.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

G7 leaders must not be intimidated by Trump, say Macron and Trudeau

Don’t be intimidated- drop your trade barriers.

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

So weak that 2 of them have to team up to try to get even more people to “stand up” to Trump.

-17 ( +2 / -19 )

These guys are a bunch of jokes.

-28 ( +3 / -31 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites