US President Donald Trump is set to attend a G7 summit in Canada, where he hopes to secure new trade deals with key allies. However, officials close to the White House say these deals are unlikely to materialize.
Trump’s visit comes ahead of a looming tariff deadline and amid growing tensions over Israel’s attack on Iran, which has sent oil prices soaring and injected uncertainty into the global economy.
The US president is eager to use the G7 meetings to demonstrate progress toward new trade agreements with the US’s most critical allies. However, negotiations have been slow, and experts say that leaders are more focused on survival than making deals.
“We’re in really different spots in our trade relationships,” said one person close to the White House. “I would be shocked if they came out with anything like the U.K.-U.S. framework in that environment.”
The G7 countries have abandoned plans for a joint statement, opting instead for “leaders’ statements” on specific issues where agreement is possible.
Trump’s aides view the summit as an opportunity to reassert American primacy, despite low expectations for tangible progress. The US president may use the forum to demonstrate his strength and willingness to stand up to other leaders, even if it means risking confrontation.
The summit will also touch on other pressing global issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the response to Israel’s attack on Iran. Trump is likely to face pressure from allies and critics alike on these matters.
Despite the challenges ahead, some officials hope that simply being present at the summit with world leaders will be enough to create a sense of progress for Trump. However, others are more skeptical, pointing out that trade negotiations often take years to complete.
Overall, Trump’s trade hopes in Canada face low expectations, and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to secure meaningful agreements with his closest allies.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/15/trump-g7-trade-deals-expectations-00405578