Scott Morrison and Donald Trump exchange ideas in Biarritz
The Australian PM has stopped short of telling Donald Trump what to do but “wants to see trade issue resolved”.
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Scott Morrison has urged the United States and China to resolve their deepening tariff war amid fears it will hurt the global economy.
On a dramatic first day of the G7 leaders’ summit which saw the surprise arrival of Iran’s foreign minister, Mr Morrison met with Donald Trump to discuss global issues including trade, Iran and the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.
The unexpectedly-long meeting came just hours after the US President appeared to show regret for the deepening tensions with China, sparking brief hopes of a truce.
When asked whether he had second thoughts about boosting tariffs against China, Mr Trump replied: “Yeah, sure … I have second thoughts about everything.” But a White House spokeswoman later confirmed that Mr Trump misunderstood and meant he regretted not raising the tariffs higher.
Ahead of his first G7 summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to confront Mr Trump over the ongoing trade row, warning the US President could be blamed for any global economic downturn triggered by the dispute.
Mr Morrison also weighed into the fight but stopped short of taking sides between the US and Australia’s biggest trading partner, China.
“It’s for both of those countries to sort those issues out and come to an agreement,” Mr Morrison said.
“I am always hopeful they will be able to do that and I would like to see that happen sooner rather than later.”
He said it was “obvious” the trans-Pacific trade war would hurt the global economy.
“The US has legitimate issues they wish to pursue as part of that trading relationship, it’s not for us to dictate to them anymore than it is to China what they should be concluding,” he said. “I want to see the issue resolved.”
Just days after Australia announced it will join US-led freedom of navigation operations patrolling the Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian threats, Mr Morrison was blindsided by the arrival of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the G7 summit.
The Iranian Minister landed in Biarritz on Sunday morning before posting photos on Twitter of his meeting with the French president opposite the building where G7 leaders had held talks.
“I wasn’t aware,” Mr Morrison said when asked whether he was expected at the forum.
The Prime Minister refused to say whether he would be willing to meet the Iranian Minister saying: “We have already had engagements with the Government of Iran in relation to our most recent announcement.”