The Nation Newspaper

Tag: G7 summit

  • Trump proposes tariff free G7 at summit

    United States President, Donald Trump, said he proposed the elimination of tariffs in talks at the G7 summit in Canada, as the major industrial nations struggled to resolve differences on trade.

    Mr. Trump said talks with fellow leaders were “extremely productive” despite tensions over his decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, the BBC reports.

    U.S allies were furious over the move, raising fears of a global trade war.

    Mr. Trump left early for a landmark meeting with North Korea’s leader.

    He is travelling to Singapore to meet with Kim Jong-un on Tuesday to try to persuade him to give up the country’s nuclear weapons.

    G7 leaders are yet to comment on Trump’s free trade remarks, but the official Instagram account of German Chancellor Angela Merkel posted a photo of the leaders gathered in what appeared to be a tense meeting.

  • G7 summit dogged by rifts between U.S and allies

    Talks at the G7 summit in Canada have failed to resolve deep differences between United States President, Donald Trump and leaders of major industrial nations.

    The divisions were laid bare on Friday, notably over trade.

    Allies of the U.S are furious over Mr. Trump’s recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, raising fears of a global trade war, the BBC reports.

    It is unclear whether a communique agreed by all will be released when the meeting concludes later on Saturday.

    The two-day summit is being held in the town of La Malbaie, in Quebec province.

    Mr. Trump is due to leave early on Saturday to head to Singapore for a landmark meeting with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.

    This summit started very badly, and it could end without the usual communique agreed by all.

    Divisions between Mr Trump and the other six leaders go way beyond trade – they include climate change, relations with Iran and the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of those arguing it might be better to set out those differences clearly rather than give a false impression of unity.

    It’s more honest, she said, than pretending everything’s OK.

     

  • Osinbajo at G7 Summit: Africa is sure of the future

    Osinbajo at G7 Summit: Africa is sure of the future

    Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday said that Africa is confident of the future because of energy and talented youth population in the continent.
    According to him, Africa is undeterred by the failures it experienced in the past
    Osinbajo spoke at the G7 Summit special outreach forum on Africa with selected African nations and leaders including Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya.
    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said “Africa is confident of the future because we have learnt,…we are investing more in education, insisting on good governance and holding ourselves to account.”
    “But the greatest reason for our optimism is in the incredible energy, talent and creativity of our young people, male and female who are completely undeterred by the failures of the past and are daily taking advantage of innovation and technology bringing about the Africa of our dreams,” the Acting President stated.
    Assuring the G7 countries of Africa’s increasing collaboration as never before in trade, counter terrorism and strengthening democracy, Osinbajo commended the seven most industrialized nations of the world for their support in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism, especially the US, France and the United Kingdom as effective partners in the Lake Chad basin.
    He attributed recent successes to the joint intelligent unit which has provided useful and timely intelligence in the war against terrorism.
    On the progress made so far in the country, Prof Osinbajo said that there is massive increase in rice yield over the past two years, distribution of fertilizer subsidies to farmers, who have also benefited from an e-wallet system which guaranteed that the subsidies actually gets to the farmers.
    He said that the N-Power programme which has started engaging some of the up to five hundred thousand young previously unemployed graduates instalmentally as teachers, agricultural extension workers and public health professionals “is a breakthrough in mass post-tertiary education.”
    He said the participants were recruited online in all states in the nation mostly using mobile phones, adding that participants will soon to receive their electronic tablet devices and can access an N-Power portal that contain required training materials for acquisition of more skills to carry out their duties.
    Other world leaders at the summit, besides leaders of the G7 countries included the Chairman of the African Union, United Nations, OECD, IMF, AfDB and World Bank.
    On the entourage,of the Acting President were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, Special Adviser to the on Economic Matters, Dr. Yemi Dipeolu, the Nigeria Charge d’ Affairs in Italy, Mrs Bisi Meshioye.
    “The Acting President has since returned to Nigeria.” the statement stated

  • Buhari off to Germany with Fashola, Shettima

    Buhari off to Germany with Fashola, Shettima

    President Muhammadu Buhari has left Abuja for the G7 Summit which begins in Bavaria, Germany today.
    Among those in his delegation are the Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, Mal. Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) and Mal. Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure and the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP).

  • Buhari leaves for G7 Summit on Sunday

    Buhari leaves for G7 Summit on Sunday

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday leave for the G7 Summit scheduled to take hold in Bavaria, Germany, from June 7 to 8.

    In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said that the invitation was extended to President Buhari, by German Chancellor Angela Merkel even before he was sworn in on May 29.

    “The invitation is a clear indication of the international community’s willingness to cooperate with the new government of Nigeria,” he said.

    He added that President Buhari would not be participating in the main meetings, since Nigeria is not a member of the G7 group.

    “He is in a group of seven other Heads of State who were called in as guests. He will equally be holding key side meetings with some of the seven Heads of State who will be convened at the summit.
    “The international community is obviously acknowledging Nigeria’s significant role in global affairs,” Malam Garba said, “especially with the recent change in government,” Shehu said.