Trump's 'fair trade, fool trade' tweets anger NATO allies

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US President Donald Trump fired off a volley of tweets on Monday venting anger on NATO allies, the European Union (EU) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the wake of a divisive Group of Seven meeting over the weekend.

The escalating clash over trade between Washington and some of its closest global partners cast a cloud over Trump’s efforts to make history in nuclear talks in Singapore on Tuesday with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) Kim Jong Un.

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Having left the G7 summit in Canada early, Trump’s announcement that he was backing out of the joint communique torpedoed what appeared to be a fragile consensus on the trade dispute between Washington and its top allies.

“Fair trade is now to be called fool trade if it is not reciprocal,” said Trump, who flew from Canada to Singapore on Sunday to prepare for the first-ever summit between a US and DPRK leader.

“Sorry, we cannot let our friends, or enemies, take advantage of us on trade anymore. We must put the American worker first!”

US President Donald Trump (R) is talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and surrounded by other G7 leaders during a meeting of the G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada. /VCG Photo

The communique, which appeared to paper over the cracks that surfaced so uncharacteristically at the G7, said the leaders of the US, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Japan have agreed on the need for “free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade” and the importance of fighting protectionism.

“We strive to reduce tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers and subsidies,” the statement said, which came despite Washington appearing intent on taking more punitive steps on trade.

Trump’s extraordinary outburst on Monday against NATO allies, the EU and Canada appeared to strike a chord with voters who support his “America First” agenda.

Larry Kudlow gives remarks during a a press briefing with US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

At the same time, however, it put Trump in the position of going into a crucial summit at odds with countries he needs on his side to pressure the DPRK towards dismantling its nuclear arsenal, which has the US within striking range.

“Not fair to the people of America! 800 billion US dollars trade deficit,” he said. “Why should I, as president of the United State, allow countries to continue to make massive trade surpluses, as they have for decades, while our farmers, workers & taxpayers have such a big and unfair price to pay?”

It was left to Trump’s aides to figure out how to explain Trump’s airing of grievances against trading partners instead of focusing on his coming talks with Kim, which the president’s supporters hope will provide him with a major foreign policy win.

Source(s): Reuters