As expected, especially after the Trump administration’s disgraceful and unforgivable treatment of a respected world leader, Europe will implement counter-measures against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum just like Canada is doing, according to the new leader of the free world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Chancellor Merkel did say that she regrets President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw support for a G7 communique.
Yes, and she specifically regrets hearing by TWEET from Trump – after he left the Group of Seven summit in Canada early, that he was backing out of the joint communique. The TWEET shattered what appeared to be a tenuous consensus on a trade dispute between Washington and its top allies. Quoting Angela Merkel per Raw Story:
“The withdrawal, so to speak, via tweet is of course … sobering and a bit depressing,” Merkel said in an ARD television interview following the G7 summit.
Notice that Merkel expressly cited the fact that Trump couldn’t even make the decision in front of their faces. Trump waited until he had 30,000 feet of altitude and several hours in time, before he announced he’d turned away from the agreement. What brave brave president. You can bet that Merkel, who has dealt with many presidents in her time leading Germany into the 21st Century, has already taken this one’s measure and found it …lacking. It’s right there in the quote.
Oh, and in her actions, too:
Like Canada, the European Union is preparing counter-measures against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, in line with World Trade Organisation rules, Merkel said. “So we won’t let ourselves be ripped off again and again. Instead, we act then too,” Merkel said in an unusually combative tone.
Trump left town on a mission to make the world a safer place, focused upon the nuclear tipped Korean peninsula, apparently oblivious that it took generations to build the peace and good-will that he is blasting through by the hour on the way to Asia. Two days into his trip and all he’s done is made our world more expensive, and less safe. Because, since the 50s, we’ve known that if anything went wrong in Asia, or Eastern Europe, we had those G7 countries solidly behind us as a force for good.
Can’t say that I blame them.
Oh, and if the world were to take a poll on who likely told the truth about who said what between Trump and Trudeau, I think Trump would “feel” the credibility gap from 30,000 feet.
***The best part of the week has been the heart-warming response I’ve gotten from y’all on Twitter, please follow me, i’m deeply honored by the rising numbers, and we’re having fun with it. @MiciakZoom.
