G7 Foreign Ministers Meet in Canada Amid Rising Tensions Over Trump’s Foreign Policy and Tariffs

On Thursday, foreign ministers from major Western democracies will gather in Canada, following seven weeks of escalating tensions between U.S. allies and President Donald Trump over his disruptive approach to foreign policy regarding Ukraine and his imposition of tariffs. The Group of Seven (G7) ministers from the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S., and the European Union will meet in La Malbaie, a remote town in Quebec, for two days of discussions that, historically, have often been cooperative on the issues at hand.
A key item on Washington’s allies’ agenda is a briefing on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s talks with Ukrainian officials on Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, Ukraine expressed its willingness to support a 30-day ceasefire agreement.
However, as Canada begins its presidency of the G7, drafting a unified final statement has proven challenging. Washington’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports led to reciprocal measures from both Canada and the EU, highlighting the existing tensions. The U.S. has also pressed for restrictions on the language used in statements about Ukraine and has opposed a separate declaration addressing Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a covert shipping network circumventing sanctions. Additionally, the U.S. has insisted on more forceful language regarding China.
On Monday, Rubio emphasized that Washington wanted to avoid any language hindering efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiation table. Speaking to the press on Wednesday, he stated that an ideal G7 statement would acknowledge that the U.S. has advanced the process of ending the war.
G7 diplomats suggested that the positive developments in Jeddah might help facilitate discussions on Ukraine. Since Trump’s return to office on January 20, U.S. policy towards Ukraine has become less favorable, with calls for a swift resolution to the conflict, a demand for European partners to take on more responsibility without openly supporting their role in future negotiations, and a shift in U.S. relations with Moscow.