U.S. and Canada's clash over tariffs overshadows G7 meeting
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the U.S. was in a trade war Friday as he wrapped up his trip to a meeting of top diplomats from the G7 industrialized democracies.
LA MALBAIE, Canada — Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the U.S. was in a trade war Friday as he wrapped up his trip to a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies.
“There’s not a trade war,” Rubio said. “The United States is resetting its trade relations globally to a level of equilibrium, to a level of reciprocity.”
That comment was in direct conflict with Mélanie Joly, Canada’s foreign minister, who just hours earlier told reporters that the Trump administration “was engaging in a trade war against Canada” and European countries. On Thursday, President Donald Trump threatened 200% tariffs on alcohol from the European Union after slapping 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada on Wednesday.
Joly said she had a very long conversation with Rubio.
“We will put maximum pressure on the Americans,” she insisted.
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