G7 leaders agree on fighting protectionism, disagree on climate change

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations pledged to fight protectionism on the final day of their summit at hilltop resort of Taormina on Italy's Sicily Island on Saturday – a step forward after US President Donald Trump agreed to include the pledge in the final communique.

However, Trump demanded more time to decide whether to quit the 2015 Paris climate accord on curbing emissions, while the leaders of the other six members, namely Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to the deal.

Participants of the G7 Summit expanded session in Taormina, Sicily, Italy on May 27, 2017. /Reuters Photo

'A step forward'

Trump, who was elected on an "America first" agenda and criticized China and Germany for their trade surplus with the US, was convinced by the other leaders to back the inclusion of the fight against protectionism in the communique.

"In the end we convinced them to include the fight against protectionism in the final communique, so that was a step forward," a European diplomat, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

At last year's G7 summit in Japan, the leaders, including Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, issued a lengthy communique in support of resisting protectionism and fighting climate change.

'Very unsatisfactory' climate talks

At the summit under Italy's presidency, the G7 leaders failed to break the deadlock on climate change, according to the communique released on Saturday afternoon.

"The United States of America is in the process of reviewing its policies on climate change and on the Paris Agreement and thus is not in a position to join the consensus on these topics," the communique said.

Meanwhile, the other six leaders as well as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission reaffirmed "their strong commitment to swiftly implement the Paris Agreement."

Trump, who threatened to ditch the Paris accord during his presidential election campaign, tweeted on Saturday that he would make his final decision on the deal next week.

US President Donald Trump demands more time to decide whether to honor the America's commitment to the Paris Agreement. /Twitter Screenshot

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (R) during the G7 Summit in Taormina, Sicily, Italy on May 27, 2017. /Reuters Photo

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the debate in Sicily "very unsatisfactory," adding that there should not be any compromises on the important agreement.

"The whole discussion on the topic of climate was very difficult, not to say very unsatisfactory," she said. "Here we have a situation of six against one, meaning there is still no sign of whether the US will remain in the Paris accord or not."

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