Top leaders from the European Union have made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon his escalating trade war, warning that protectionist policies are destabilizing the global economy. Speaking at the opening press conference of the G7 summit in Canada, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa called for renewed cooperation among the world’s leading economies.
“Let’s keep trade between us fair, predictable and open,” von der Leyen said. “All of us need to avoid protectionist measures — this is an important message that the G7 can send to the markets and to the world.”
The European leaders expressed deep concern over the economic fallout from the tariffs imposed by Washington in recent months, which have triggered retaliatory measures and sparked fears of a global slowdown. Von der Leyen emphasized the need for a “frank discussion” among the G7 partners to restore stability and predictability in global markets, noting that negotiations between Brussels and Washington are ongoing in search of a trade truce.
António Costa echoed von der Leyen’s call for unity, arguing that the EU cannot simultaneously meet increased defense spending expectations while being drawn into a damaging trade dispute.
“This is not the right moment to create uncertainty in the economy,” Costa warned. “We need to strengthen our economic bases — and so does the United States.”
The appeal underscores the EU’s mounting frustration over U.S. trade policies that have roiled global markets and strained traditional alliances. As the G7 summit unfolds, leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States will face mounting pressure to find common ground on issues ranging from trade to climate change.
While the road to consensus may be difficult, EU leaders say the stakes — global economic stability and the strength of long-standing partnerships — could not be higher.
