G7 Summit Begins in Canada Amid US Tariff Tensions, Global Trade Talks

The 2025 G-7 summit in Canada, hosted by Prime Minister Mark Carney, centers on trade tensions and global security concerns amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East. President Trump, attending his first G-7 since 2018, aims to leverage the summit to finalize new trade deals, particularly seeking relief from tariffs imposed on allies like Canada, the EU, and Japan, while maintaining his threat to reapply tariffs if agreements are not reached. The U.S. has already secured trade agreements with the United Kingdom and China, though the latter's concessions are limited to six months, and other partners hope to negotiate before the July 9 tariff pause deadline. Leaders also plan to discuss broader issues including critical minerals access, illegal migration, drug smuggling, and technology competition, with Canada inviting non-G7 leaders such as India’s Narendra Modi and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to participate. Despite lingering trade disputes and political tensions, experts suggest Trump is unlikely to cause major disruptions at this summit, partly motivated by hosting the 2027 G-7 meeting. The summit reflects a critical test of international cooperation as nations confront simultaneous economic and security challenges.