Politics
Trump’s tariffs creating ‘tensions’ among G7 ahead of summit: Champagne TenX News
The growing impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs is creating “tensions” among members of the G7 heading into a critical summit in Canada next month, the federal finance minister says.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem are chairing three days of meetings with top finance officials from the world’s largest economies in Banff, Alta., this week. The talks are expected to focus on the war in Ukraine and artificial intelligence, and how the G7 members can work together to grow the global economy.
However, Trump’s aggressive trade policies are likely to dominate the proceedings, and could even impact what members can feasibly agree to.
“There’s no doubt that around the table, you need to find unity, but at the same time, it’s true that the tariffs are creating tensions amongst the different partners,” Champagne told Global News in an interview from Calgary on Tuesday.
“Everyone understands that the fiscal capacity of countries is more constrained coming out of COVID. We have big things to do with respect to defence, with respect to infrastructure, with respect to housing.”
He continued: “So my mission as the chair is really to make sure that we can work together, remove the uncertainty that we’re seeing, the instability we’ve seen in the market, and focus on growth measures that are going to be beneficial for all of us.”
Other G7 finance officials have expressed their intention to resolve trade disputes with the U.S. as quickly as possible ahead of this week’s meetings.
“Tariffs and uncertainties are a burden on our economy and therefore also on job security,” German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said in Berlin on Tuesday before leaving for Canada.
Champagne said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be representing the Trump administration at the Banff summit.
He would not say if he and other G7 finance officials will be urging Bessent to lift Trump’s tariffs during the talks — which Bessent and other administration officials have said is not something they are considering, although they say countries can negotiate lower tariffs through new trade deals.
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A U.S. Treasury spokesperson said Bessent will push the other G7 countries to address imbalances and non-market practices, including in their own economies, and counteract China’s state-driven economic model.
“The G7 must work together to protect our workers and firms from China’s unfair practices,” the spokesperson added.
Pressed by reporters at a press conference later on Tuesday, Champagne acknowledged officials will be be discussing “the issues that are front and centre” but will be seeking a united front on the challenges facing the world.
“I look very much look forward to the contribution of Secretary Bessent,” he said. “All the colleagues are very eager to meet with him and to really have a chance to discuss frankly, openly, how we can work together.”
This week’s gathering will be a precursor to the G7 Leaders’ Summit that will happen in Kananaskis, Alta., from June 15 to 17, which will see Trump join Prime Minister Mark Carney and leaders from Japan and Europe for high-level talks.
Ottawa, Alberta working together on energy, Champagne says
Champagne told Global News he met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary earlier Tuesday, where the two discussed the federal government’s commitment to expanding energy production and projects in Canada.
The minister said hosting the G7 talks in Alberta will showcase the potential for the province, and Canada as a whole, to supply oil and gas and other natural resources to the rest of the world. That’s a message he also shared with Smith, he added.
“This morning was all about opportunities, making sure that we see how can we seize this moment that we have ahead of us and be ambitious and build the Canada of the future together,” Champagne said.
“There’s a lot of projects that we need to bring oil to market. We’ve been looking at different things together and she knows that we’re keen to work together, and that we are stronger together.”
Champagne said he also met with Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko before heading to Banff, where Marchenko is also set to participate in some of the talks.
The ministers discussed ways to work on Ukraine’s reconstruction as well as ways Canada can help Ukraine economically, Champagne said.
“There’s a moral imperative to help our Ukrainian friends who have fought for democracy,” he said. “But at the same time, there is a lot that Canada can offer when it comes to energy, when it come to oil and gas, when it’s comes to infrastructure, when it comes to housing.”
In Italy last year, leaders committed to keeping Russian assets frozen and redirecting them to provide Ukraine with financial support.
Since Trump returned to power last January, however, he has threatened to withhold funding from Ukraine and forced it to sign a critical minerals agreement in exchange for continued support against Russia’s aggression.
The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin brought about neither a ceasefire in Ukraine nor fresh U.S. sanctions.
—with files from the Canadian Press and Reuters
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Qatar has committed to “significant” investments for Canada’s major building projects, calling it a “new chapter” in bilateral relations.
Carney made the announcement Sunday following his meeting with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
The new measures will include the finalization of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Qatar, a deal that has seen years of stalled negotiations, Carney said.
“We are raising our relationship and our level of alignment by making friends with strategic partners,” Carney said. “To launch this new chapter in our relationship, I’m pleased to announce that Qatar has committed to make significant strategic investments in Canada’s nation-building projects.
“This capital will help the projects get built faster and supercharge our energy industries, while helping to create thousands of high-paying careers for Canadians.”
He also said the new agreement will help Canadian businesses to “more easily” expand operations in Qatar as well as attract investment from the country.
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According to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office, air services between Canada and Qatar will also be expanded and a defence attache from Canada will be posted in the country.
According to the PMO, the two countries have agreed to launch negotiations on a new framework focused on military, security and defence matters, and expand investment opportunities on areas such as AI.
The PMO said the two leaders agreed to stay in touch and Carney noted Sunday he had invited the Emir to visit Canada later this year and attend the World Cup match between their two countries with him.
The plans with Qatar are Carney’s latest in a slew of agreements and travel to other countries to discuss trade deals since his election last year.
Asked about his ongoing efforts to meet with countries interested in trade, Carney told reporters that multilateral relationships are “being eroded.”
“The consequence of that is there is a reduction in freer trade, much more trade is tariff-based or otherwise restricted and there is virtually no, with all due respect to those who are trying, virtually no multilateral progress,” Carney said.
“Where there is progress, and where Canada and like-minded countries are looking to make progress, is through pluriality deals… which is multiple countries but not all countries.”
On Friday, Canada announced that 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) would soon be imported each year with a lowered 6.1 per cent tariff after Carney struck a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Carney added on Sunday that Xi showed interest in expanding China’s trade relations with other countries, and that’s why Canada is establishing trade deals with other countries, such as Qatar.
“In this more uncertain and dangerous world, we’ve chosen to create greater stability, security and prosperity together,” Carney said.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
World leaders are raising alarm after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on European allies in an effort to pressure Denmark into negotiations over Greenland.
The move is sparking protests across the Arctic and sharp rebukes from Europe and Canada.
On Saturday, thousands of people marched through snow and ice in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, chanting “Greenland is not for sale,” waving national flags.
Police described the demonstration as the largest they have ever seen in the city.
About 825 kilometres away, dozens of people rallied in Iqaluit, Nunavut, in a show of solidarity with Greenlanders.
“Greenland is owned by the Greenlandic people,” protesters chanted in Inuktut as they marched for an hour in freezing, windy conditions.
The protests came as Trump announced he would impose a 10 per cent import tax starting next month on goods from eight European countries.
These nations include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, because of their opposition to U.S. control of Greenland.
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The tariff would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if no deal was reached for what Trump called the “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
The president suggested the tariffs were leveraged to force talks over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark that Trump says is vital to U.S. national security.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France stands firmly behind Greenland’s sovereignty and rejected the use of trade threats.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context,” Macron wrote on social media, adding that Europeans would respond “in a united and coordinated manner” if the measures are confirmed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Greenland’s future is for Greenlanders and Denmark to decide.
“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” Starmer said, adding the issue would be raised directly with the U.S. administration.
Bob Rae, former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, also chimed in on Trump’s announcement.
The tariff threat could mark a significant rupture between the U.S. and its NATO allies.
Greenland already hosts the U.S.-run Pituffik Space Base under a 1951 defence agreement with Denmark, supporting missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance for the U.S. and NATO.
“There is no sign of the Trump war of aggression against Greenland and Denmark letting up. It is not about ‘security’ any more than Venezuela was about ‘narco-terrorism.’ They are both about seizing control and plunder.”
He further added, “No country, including my own, Canada, is safe or secure.”
The tariff threat could mark a significant rupture between the U.S. and its NATO allies.
Trump is expected to face questions about the proposed tariffs and Greenland later this week.
He is scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, alongside several European leaders he has threatened with tariffs.
— With files from The Canadian Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Doha on Saturday as part of a push to attract foreign investment and deepen Canada’s economic partnerships beyond its traditional allies.
Carney’s visit comes on the heels of his visit to China and follows the recent presentation of a new federal investment budget aimed at positioning Canada as a stable, attractive destination for global capital.
In a news conference on Saturday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Canada is working to broaden its economic relationships as global trade patterns shift.
Qatar is viewed by Ottawa as a strategic partner, with officials pointing to the country’s significant investment capacity and growing influence on the global stage.
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“We need to reduce our dependence and increase our self-reliance to find a strategic path forward,” Champagne said.
“Engaging with the Middle East and China is necessary for Canada, just like our European partners have done,” Champagne added. “We buy more from the U.S.A. than anywhere else, but the trading climate right now is different.”
The conference highlighted Canada’s industrial capacity and trade advantages as key selling points for potential investors.
Champagne also said international engagement is critical as Canada works to raise its profile among global investors.
“We are one of the G7s with very big industries. We build cars, planes, ships, we have an abundance of energy, and we are the only one with free trade with all G7,” Champagne said. “With the way the world is changing, you better diversify, supply chain is changing and we need to adapt.”
Prime Minister Carney is expected to meet with senior Qatari officials, including Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority.
His office says the talks will focus on expanding trade access and forging partnerships in artificial intelligence, infrastructure, energy and defence.
The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, though officials say the schedule remains unchanged.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Qatar to invest in Canada’s major building projects, Carney says – National TenX News
“Unacceptable’: Allies react to Trump Greenland tariff threats – National TenX News
Canada talks trade with Qatar as Carney touches down in Doha – National TenX News
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