LA MALBAIE, Canada — Foreign ministers of leading Western democracies meet in Canada on Thursday after seven weeks of rising tensions between US allies and President Donald J. Trump over his upending of foreign policy on Ukraine and imposing of tariffs.

The Group of Seven (G7) ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the European Union (EU), meet in the remote tourist town of La Malbaie, nestled in the Quebec hills for two days of meetings that in the past have broadly been consensual on the issues they face.

Top of the agenda for Washington’s partners will be getting a debriefing on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s talks on Tuesday with Kyiv in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine said it was ready to support a 30-day ceasefire deal.

But in the run-up to the first G7 meeting of Canada’s presidency, the crafting of an agreed all-encompassing final statement has been tough.

A US decision to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports immediately drew reciprocal measures from Canada and the EU, underscoring the tensions.

Washington has sought to impose red lines on language around Ukraine and opposed a separate declaration on curbing Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, a murky shipping network that eludes sanctions, while demanding more robust language on China.

On Monday, Mr. Rubio cautioned that Washington did not want language that could harm efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine to the table. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday he said a good G7 statement would recognize that the United States has moved the process to end the war forward.

G7 diplomats said the positive outcome from Jeddah may at least ease talks on Ukraine.

The United States, since Mr. Trump’s return to office on Jan. 20, has taken a less-friendly stance on Ukraine, pushing for a quick deal to end the war, demanded European partners take on more of the burden without openly endorsing their role in future talks, and warmed Washington’s ties with Moscow.

TARIFFS TO 51^ST STATE
Even Japan, so reliant on American security guarantees, has found itself in Mr. Trump’s firing line.

“It’s very difficult. Maybe we should wait for the G8,” said one European diplomat ironically.

Mr. Trump has suggested the G8 might be revived with the return of Moscow 11 years after its membership in the group was suspended over its annexation of Crimea.

Nowhere have the difficulties for US allies been more apparent than in Canada.

Relations between the United States and Canada are at an all-time low, thanks to Mr. Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on all imports from Canada and his constant musing about annexing the country to make it the 51^st US state.

“We’re going to be focused in the G7 on all of those things. That’s what the meeting is about. It is not a meeting about how we’re going to take over Canada,” Mr. Rubio told reporters, highlighting how offbeat their ties have become.

That may not appease Ottawa. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Wednesday she would be on the offensive at the G7.

“In every single meeting, I will raise the issue of tariffs to coordinate a response with the Europeans and to put pressure on the Americans,” she said.

European diplomats said they hoped to use the G7 to assess directly how much influence Mr. Rubio has on US foreign policy.

Mr. Trump has used a wide array of officials not linked to the State department in talks ranging from Ukraine to the situation in the Middle East, where allies have been alarmed by some of the erratic statements coming from Washington. — Reuters

TAIPEI — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday China has deepened its influence campaigns and infiltration against the democratic island, pledging measures to tackle Beijing’s efforts to “absorb” Taiwan.

Taiwan has accused China of stepping up military drills, trade sanctions and influence campaigns against the island in recent years to force the island to accept Chinese sovereignty claims.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with senior security officials, Mr. Lai said Beijing had used Taiwan’s democracy to “absorb” various members of society including organized crime groups, media personalities, and current and former military and police officers.

“They (China) are carrying out activities such as division, destruction, and subversion from within us,” Mr. Lai told a press briefing broadcast live from the Presidential office.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Citing government data, Mr. Lai said 64 people were charged for Chinese espionage last year, three times more than in 2021. He said the majority of them were current or former military officials.

“Many are worried that our country, hard-earned freedom and democracy and prosperity will be lost bit by bit due to these influence campaigns and manipulation,” Mr. Lai said.

By making these efforts, Mr. Lai said China constituted what Taiwan’s Anti-Infiltration Act defined as “foreign hostile forces.”

The president proposed 17 legal and economic countermeasures, including the strict review of Taiwan visits or residency applications by Chinese citizens, and proposals to resume the work of the military court.

Mr. Lai also said his government would make “necessary adjustments” to the flows of money, people and technology across the strait. He did not elaborate.

In addition, he said the government would issue “reminders” to Taiwanese actors and singers performing in China on their “statements and actions,” a response to what Taipei sees as an ongoing Chinese campaign to pressure pop stars to make pro-Beijing comments.

“We have no choice but to take more active actions.”

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future. — Reuters