Merkel – Abe – Trump – Photo EU Council
(CHARLEVOIX) – World leaders apart from U.S. president Donald Trump committed at the G7 summit in Canada this weekend to fight protectionism and defend the rules-based international trading system.
At what the EU had warned would be the most challenging G7 in years, the leaders also called for the modernisation of the World Trade Organisation. They stressed the need to avoid excess capacity in sectors such as aluminium and high technology.
The leaders in their communique – apart from Mr Trump – urged Russia to end its actions undermining democracies and its support of the Syrian regime.
They also called for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and of Iran.
G7 leaders vowed to work together to achieve inclusive growth and gender equality.
The EU reaffirmed its strong commitment to implement the Paris climate agreement, along with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK., despite Mr Trump’s
Leaders of the G7 countries adopted a final communique at the end of the summit, though U.S. agreement was rescinded by Mr Trump in a tweet.
On the economy and trade, G7 leaders vowed to fight protectionism and to reduce tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers and subsidies.
They also committed to modernise the World Trade Organisation and to preserve the rules-based international trading system.
G7 leaders stressed the urgent need to avoid excess capacity in sectors such as aluminium and high technology.
They vowed to continue to fight tax evasion and avoidance by promoting the global implementation of international standards and addressing base erosion and profit shifting.
Inclusive growth was also the leaders’ agenda. They agreed to work together to ensure that economic growth benefits everyone and in particular those most at risk of being left behind.
Here, they reaffirmed their commitment to eradicate poverty and inequalities, advance gender equality, and create decent work and quality of life for all.
On security and foreign policy, the G7 leaders committed to defend democracies from foreign threats seeking to undermine their societies, elections, sovereignty and security.
They urged Russia to end its destabilizing behaviour to undermine democratic systems and its support of the Syrian regime. They condemned the Salisbury attack of March 2018 and agreed with the UK’s assessment that it is highly likely that Russia was responsible.
G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to eradicate Daesh and its hateful ideology. They condemned the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and by Daesh.
Regarding Iran, leader said that the country must respect its international obligations and commitments to never seek, develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.
G7 leaders also called for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
On gender equality and women’s empowerment, leaders of the G7 countries discussed how to remove barriers to women’s participation in social, economic and political spheres.
They stressed the value of education for girls and women to achieve gender equality in particular in developing countries.
The EU along with Canada, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the World Bank agree to invest close to 2.5 billion to improve access to quality education for girls and women worldwide.
Leaders are also committed to end sexual and gender-based violence, abuse and harassment online.
Regarding the environment, the EU reaffirmed its strong commitment to implement the Paris climate agreement, along with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK. Mr Trump last year annnounced the U.S. would exit the deal.
G7 leaders discussed concrete actions with outreach partners to preserve oceans and to fight the threat of plastic waste.
