President Donald Trump said that he is "looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries" during the G-7 summit in Quebec, Canada. Before Trump boarded Air Force One to depart for the summit he told reporters that he is "going to deal with the unfair trade practices. If you look what Canada, Mexico, the European Union, what all of them have been doing to us for many decades, we have to change it."
Trump has been sparring with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over new tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum. The president defended the tariffs pointing out that "Canada charges the U.S. a 270% tariff on Dairy Products" in an early morning tweet.
“Canada charges the U.S. a 270% tariff on Dairy Products! They didn’t tell you that, did they? Not fair to our farmers!”
Trump said that if his administration cannot reach a deal on a new trade agreement he will "terminate NAFTA," promising that "we will be better off" and that the United States is "not going to live with the deals the way they are."
French President Emmanuel Macron used Twitter to criticize President Trump for his stance on trade and indicated that the remaining six countries could sign their own agreement.
"The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be. Because these 6 countries represent values, they represent an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force."
Trump responded to the tweet and pointed out that France and Canada "are charging the U.S. massive tariffs."
Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers. The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow.
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