Thread: G20 closes with rebuke to Trump's climate change stance

G20 closes with rebuke to Trump's climate change stance

By Angela Dewan and Stephanie Halasz CNN
Updated 11:14 AM ET, Sat July 8, 2017

Hamburg, Germany (CNN)German Chancellor Angela Merkel closed the G20 summit in Hamburg with a rebuke to US President Donald Trump's stance on climate change, but appeared to make a concession on his protectionist trade policies.

Merkel said she deplored the US' decision to pull out of the Paris climate change agreement and said that all other 19 nations in the G20 remained committed to it.

Trump faced a chorus of global outrage last month when he announced he would withdraw the US from the accord, which obliges countries to reduce their carbon emissions to ward off catastrophic global warming.

The communiqe from the group of 19 countries and the European Union noted the US' withdrawal from the accord but said the country affirmed its "strong commitment to an approach that lowers emissions while supporting economic growth and improving energy security needs."

In her remarks, Merkel appeared to come down hard on Trump's protectionist trade policies, saying she was glad that leaders agreed that "markets need to be kept open."

"This is all about fighting protectionism and also unfair trade practices."

But the final communique made concessions for "the role of legitimate trade defense instruments."

US President Donald Trump won the 2016 election on an "America First" platform that would pull the country out of several multilateral trade deals and negotiations, as well as the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.

The US had threatened to impose new tariffs on steel imports into the country, a comment that prompted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to threaten the same in return, giving early warning signs of a trade war.

The leaders had been at an impasse over climate change and trade for most of the summit, and Merkel had made it clear that the US' stance on the issues had made talks difficult.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe...que/index.html

"This is all about fighting protectionism and also unfair trade practices."

Yeah, Angela, just wait until you're truly in a free trade world like the US has been forced into. We've learned the hard way about the horrible cost of "free trade" and are returning to the common sense position for our country of protected trade. The US isn't going to allow our factories and good jobs to be sucked out of this country any more by anyone, China or Germany. Those ole "free trade is good for America" mantras have been proven absolutely wrong on every possible level from all angles. So we'll be looking forward to your free trade deals with China and Mexico and many others. Bon Chance!! In the meantime, we're OUT, OUT, OUT.

Americans have learned that saving $5 on a shirt at Walmart isn't worth losing the job that gave you the paycheck to pay for it.

Sorry Angie...US ATM machine is DOWN for repairs!

Not paying for your socialist programs, free healthcare, long vacations, long lunch hours, great school lunch programs, free school...or to defend you anymore either.

Pay up your fair share!

Originally Posted by Beezer

Sorry Angie...US ATM machine is DOWN for repairs!

Not paying for your socialist programs, free healthcare, long vacations, long lunch hours, great school lunch programs, free school...or to defend you anymore either.

Pay up your fair share!

LOL!!! Good one, Beezer!! Exactly right. The US ATM machine is down, down, down. In fact, we've unplugged it and thrown away the cord.