Canada’s champagne says G7 ministers are not avoiding tariff discussions

Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday that tariffs were a key point of discussion during the G7 finance ministers’ meeting, despite the issue being omitted from the final communique.

“They are not skating around the fact that tariffs are an issue,” Champagne told reporters at a press briefing following the conclusion of the summit. The finance minister, who also chaired this year’s G7 finance leaders’ meeting, emphasized that tariffs were part of broader conversations on global economic stability and growth.

The summit took place under the shadow of renewed trade tensions sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures, which have targeted Canada and other G7 members. The escalating tariff regime has begun to impact G7 economies and challenge the existing framework of global trade cooperation.

With U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in attendance, observers had speculated whether the finance leaders would be able to find common ground on trade policy. While the official communique avoided direct reference to tariffs, Champagne made clear that the topic was “something you can’t avoid discussing.”

“We are trying to enhance growth and stability, and obviously tariffs are something in that context that you can't avoid discussing,” he said.

The meeting highlighted ongoing concerns among G7 members about the fragmentation of the global trade order and the economic toll of protectionist policies, even as the group seeks to maintain a united front on financial and economic issues.

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