During the G7 summit in France, Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned having multiple informal discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite the absence of an official meeting. Carney explained that Trump had only scheduled bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit. Although Trump had met with Macron among the G7 leaders, he had also conducted bilateral meetings with the leaders of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Carney shared that he engaged in seven or eight conversations with President Trump over the last 36 hours in the scenic town of Évian-les-Bains in the French Alps. Their discussions revolved around various topics such as the economy, artificial intelligence, Ukraine, and the U.S.-Iran peace deal. Carney also mentioned giving Trump a birthday present, which the president reportedly appreciated.
Regarding the absence of a formal bilateral meeting, Carney emphasized that it did not carry any specific message. The summit, delayed by a day due to a UFC fight hosted by the White House on Trump’s birthday, saw Trump announcing an agreement to end the war in Iran and the authorization to lift the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Carney, in an interview with CNN, expressed optimism about the preliminary Iran agreement, highlighting its potential as a game-changing development. He assured that Canada would support the implementation of the deal, emphasizing positive impacts on various regions.
Furthermore, Carney clarified that there was no Canadian financial involvement in the Iran deal. Trade discussions between Canada and the U.S., particularly on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), remained tense. During the summit, Canadian officials engaged in talks with their U.S. counterparts to address trade issues.
Notably, Canada recently agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, leading to a mutual agreement with China on trade issues. Carney updated Trump on Canada’s plan regarding Chinese vehicle imports, receiving a positive response from the president.
Additionally, Carney met with various world leaders during the summit, including those from Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, India, Italy, South Korea, and Germany. Discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on finalizing a trade agreement by the upcoming G20 summit.
The G7 leaders issued joint statements during the summit, committing to several initiatives such as enhancing financing access for developing countries, collaborating on cancer research, and combating issues like Ebola, migrant smuggling, and drug trafficking. The leaders also affirmed their support for Ukraine and the U.S.-Iran peace deal, emphasizing energy supply diversification and global energy stock increase.
Regarding Russia, the leaders emphasized strengthening sanctions, particularly in the oil and gas sectors. Carney underlined efforts to diversify energy sources and enhance energy infrastructure in the region. The leaders expressed unwavering support for Ukraine’s freedom and territorial integrity, pledging to boost defence assistance and consider extending military production licenses.
Before concluding his participation in the summit, Carney engaged in a working session on economic growth and planned to attend a luncheon with artificial intelligence (AI) companies.