G-7 Leaders Agree to Maintain Sanctions on Russia, Fight Protectionism -- 2nd Update
May 27 2017 - 3:01PM
Dow Jones News
By Matthew Dalton and Giovanni Legorano
TAORMINA, Italy -- The Group of Seven nations struck deals on
sanctions against Russia and global trade, overcoming tensions on
two issues that threatened to pit U.S. President Donald Trump
against the other six leaders.
In his first meeting with the heads of the world's leading
democracies, Mr. Trump surprised some of his counterparts, coming
across as a willing negotiator who delved into the fine print of
the discussions.
"Believe it or not, he was even interested in what diplomats
call 'drafting' -- changing words and adjectives in statements,"
said Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
"I saw someone who is listening and who wants to work," said
French President Emmanuel Macron.
Yet Mr. Trump refused to give assurances on one of their top
priorities: keeping the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement, which
calls for nations around the world to limit their greenhouse gas
emissions. Now, the leaders are hoping that Mr. Trump's pragmatism
will dissuade him from following through on a campaign pledge to
pull the U.S. out of the deal.
"A few weeks ago, we thought that the U.S. was going to leave
the Paris climate agreement," Mr. Macron said. "I think there has
been progress, real discussions and real debate."
On the rest of the agenda, the leaders found consensus on
subjects where Mr. Trump had previously taken positions at odds
with much of the international community. The nations agreed at a
summit to maintain sanctions on Russia for its interference in
Ukraine until the conditions of a peace process negotiated in
Minsk, Belarus, are fulfilled.
"We also stand ready to take further restrictive measures in
order to increase costs on Russia should its actions so require,"
according to a statement prepared by the seven leaders.
Mr. Macron is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday
in Paris in their first meeting of Mr. Macron's presidency.
"Talking with Russia is indispensable," Mr. Macron said,
"because there are a number of problems that won't be solved
without forceful discussions with the Russians, particularly on the
question of Syria.
"I'll talk to him about that, without concessions on Ukraine,"
he added.
On trade policy, the leaders agreed to "fight protectionism" and
backed the World Trade Organization as enforcer of global trade
rules.
"We commit to working together to improve the functioning of the
WTO, to ensure full and transparent implementation and effective
and timely enforcement of all WTO rules by all members," according
to the leaders' statement.
Mr. Trump's previous rhetoric on the two issues has unnerved
America's closest allies. He has called for closer ties with the
Kremlin and repeatedly threatened to block imports from America's
trade partners, most recently Germany.
"Talks on trade have allowed us to make significant steps
forward," Mr. Gentiloni said. "[We reached] a compromise between
the need to defend the categories of those penalized by
globalization and the principles defending free trade."
Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com and Giovanni
Legorano at giovanni.legorano@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 27, 2017 14:46 ET (18:46 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.