Agence France-Presse 8/24/2019
European leaders rounded on US President Donald Trump over his trade threats Saturday at a G7 summit in France marred by trans-Atlantic tension and worries about the global economy.
The heads of the visiting G7 countries -- Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- were all smiles at a swanky welcome dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on a clifftop overlooking the surfing paradise of Biarritz.
Fine French wines and champagne were served along with a dinner including locally fished bluefin tuna.
But once the evening ended, the leaders faced two intensely tricky days of a summit overshadowed by Trump's trade war talk even before it started.
After ramping up his high-risk game of tit-for-tat tariffs with China on Friday, Trump left for the meeting with his Western partners threatening to impose punishing taxes on French wine.
European Union Council President Donald Tusk warned Saturday that the bloc would "respond in kind," although he added: the "last thing we need is confrontation with our best ally the United States."
Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also sounded the alarm over Trump's escalating struggle with China.
"I am very concerned. The UK is at risk of being implicated in this. This is not the way to proceed," Johnson told reporters.
"I want to see a dialling down of tensions."
More:
https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/eu-leaders-round-trump-over-trade-g7-doc-1jq6aq2
