G7 Leaders Agree to Maintain Sanctions on Russia, Fight Protectionism
27 May 2017 - 3:24PM
Dow Jones News
By Matthew Dalton
TAORMINA, Italy -- The Group of Seven nations struck deals on
sanctions against Russia and global trade, overcoming disputes on
two issues that threatened to pit U.S. President Donald Trump
against the other six leaders.
The nations agreed at a summit Saturday to maintain sanctions on
Russia for its interference in Ukraine until the conditions of a
peace process negotiated in Minsk, Belarus are fulfilled. They also
promised to go further if Moscow's behavior warrants tougher
action.
"We also stand ready to take further restrictive measures in
order to increase costs on Russia should its actions so require,"
according to a statement prepared by the seven leaders.
On trade policy, they agreed to "fight protectionism" and backed
the World Trade Organization as enforcer of global trade rules.
"We commit to working together to improve the functioning of the
WTO, to ensure full and transparent implementation and effective
and timely enforcement of all WTO rules by all members," according
to the leaders' statement.
Mr. Trump's previous rhetoric on the two issues has unnerved
America's closest allies. He has called for closer ties with the
Kremlin and repeatedly threatened to block imports from America's
trade partners, most recently Germany.
Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 27, 2017 10:09 ET (14:09 GMT)
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