The Latest on Group of Seven summit (all times local) :
TAORMINA, Sicily — The Latest on Group of Seven summit (all times local) :
4: 35 p.m.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the G-7 agreed to step up pressure on North Korea, including sanctions. He told reporters it was the first time that the G-7 had recognized the North Korean threat as a priority issue.
He says “the threat has entered a new stage” as North Korea tests missiles and nuclear weapons.
Abe adds, “there is a danger it can spread like a contagious disease.”
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4: 25 p.m.
President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, says the other G-7 leaders respect the U. S. position that more time is needed for Trump to make a final decision on whether to stay in the Paris climate accord. Trump tweeted Saturday that he’ ll make a decision next week.
Cohn told reporters: “They understand where we are, we understand where they are and it’s most important that we continue to work together.”
Cohn describes the conversation among the leaders was “very robust” and said there was a “lot of give and take.”
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4: 15 p.m.
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni says differences of opinion with President Donald Trump “emerged quite clearly in our discussion” at the G-7 summit.
Gentiloni says: “Discussing is always useful. I think that all of the leaders present, starting with President Trump, appreciated the informality with which one in this format… can discuss things calmly and freely.”
He notes that the American people chose Trump and adds, “so we are coming to terms with this choice.”
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4: 05 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised President Donald Trump’s “capacity to listen” and his “intention to progress with us.” Macron hailed this as “one of the true outcomes of this G-7.”
Macron said he told Trump it is “indispensable for the reputation of the United States and the interest of the Americans themselves that the United States remain committed” to the Paris agreement.
The French leader says he believes the arguments made by the six other members enabled Trump to understand the importance of that issue and the necessity the Paris agreement for the U. S. economy.
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3: 50 p.m.
Alden Meyer, the director of strategy and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists, an advocacy group in Washington, said the discord over climate change was unusual for G-7 meetings.
He says: “There have been differences, to be sure, in some past summits, but not a sharp open split like this.”
Meyer said many U. S. states, cities, and companies are moving forward on climate action while the Trump administration is “waffling” on the Paris Agreement.
He says: “President Trump should join these leaders in protecting Americans from the mounting impacts of climate change and reaping the economic benefits of the clean energy revolution, rather than trying to shore up the flagging fortunes of the polluting coal and oil industries.
