QUEBEC, Canada — French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday threatened to join other world leaders to issue a rare rebuke of the United States at a global summit here this weekend, drawing an immediate and sharp reply from President Trump.
Macron threatened to exclude the United States from the joint statement issued every year at the end of the G7 summit, part of an international pushback against Trump’s efforts to change trade rules.
“The American president may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6-country agreement if need be,” Macron wrote on Twitter. “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 by accusing Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of hurting the United States with unfair trade practices.
“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,” Trump wrote.
Macron is scheduled to meet one-on-one with Trump during the G7, and the Twitter barbs could be a prelude for an awkward confrontation.
The joint statements don’t carry the weight of international law, but they do establish a measure of common principles that each nation shares.
Trump and his senior advisers have already discussed the idea of refusing to sign a joint statement, known as a communique. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin declined to sign a joint G-7 statement last week at a meeting with finance ministers.
Last year, at Trump’s first G-7 meeting, he agreed to sign on to the joint statement, even embracing language that the leaders of Europe and Canada have accused the United States of now violating.
That statement said “we reiterate our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight protectionism, while standing firm against all unfair trade practices.”
Trump has spent much of this year engaged in escalating trade wars with countries including U.S. allies Canada, Mexico, and members of the EU.
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