BANFF: The Group of Seven or G7 leaders are gathering in Canada amid growing splits with the US over foreign policy and trade, with host nation striving to avoid clashes with President Donald Trump.

While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his priorities are strengthening peace and security, building critical mineral supply chains and creating jobs, issues such as US tariffs and the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to feature heavily.

The conflict between Israel and Iran is set to dominate discussions during the summit, which is taking place in the mountain resort of Kananaskis, approximately 90 km west of Calgary.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the issue will be “very high on the agenda of the G7 summit”.

He said his goals are for Iran to not develop or possess nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel’s right to defend itself, avoiding the escalation of conflict and creating room for diplomacy.

Diplomats said Canada has ditched the idea of a traditional comprehensive joint communique and would issue chair summaries instead, in hopes of containing a disaster and maintaining engagement with the US

A senior US official said on Friday working discussions would cover trade and the global economy, critical minerals, migrant and drug smuggling, wildfires, international security, AI and energy security.

US tariffs

Australia and Japan have said they’d raise the issue of US trade tariffs during the meeting.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he will discuss trade tariffs and the defence pact, AUKUS, with President Trump.

“We’ll raise tariffs, we’ll raise the importance as well of AUKUS, and we will have a discussion as two friends should,” he said from Seattle, as he makes his way to the G7 summit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of a summit.

“I will make every possible effort to reach an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States,” Ishiba told reporters before leaving Japan.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2025