Theresa May urges Donald Trump to 'honour G7 commitments' after disowning joint communique

Theresa May has urged Donald Trump to honour the commitments he made at the G7 summit in thinly veiled criticism of the president after he clashed with long-standing allies.

It follows the decision by Mr Trump shortly after the weekend summit to dramatically disown the G7 communique that agreed on the need for “free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade” and the importance of tackling protectionism.

“The communique was agreed by all the parties who attended the G7 and we fully intend to honour it,” a Downing Street spokesperson told journalists at a regular Westminster briefing.

They added: “We would hope that the US will similarly honour the commitments that they have made.”

Later on Monday – in an update in the Commons – Ms May described the summit to MPs as “difficult” adding that there were some “very candid discussions” between the attendees, which included the UK, Japan, Canada, the US, Italy, Germany and France.

The prime minister also expressed her “deep disappointment” at the “unjustified” imposition of tariffs on American imports of European steel and aluminium.

While she left no doubt there would be retaliatory measures from EU nations, Ms May cautioned against a “tit-for-tat escalation” with the US.

But Jeremy Corbyn went further, blaming the Mr Trump’s “America first” policy for what he described as the “failed” G7 summit in Quebec.

“The problems facing leaders is that the White House is inhabited by a president committed to his slogan, America first,” the Labour leader said. “That has meant the dismantling of multilateral agreements, the pulling out of the Paris climate change accords and the destabilisation of the Iran nuclear deal, and now the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminium.”

Their comments came after a joint communique had been confirmed by the Canadian prime minister, only for Mr Trump to backtrack from the agreement, tweeting that he had decided not to endorse it due to “false statements” from Justin Trudeau.

In his incendiary remarks following the G7 gathering in Canada, Mr Trump wrote: “Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive tariffs to our US farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our US reps not to endorse the communique as we look at tariffs on automobiles flooding the US market!”

His views were echoed by John Bolton, the president’s national security adviser, who added: “Just another G7 where other countries except America will always be their bank.

“The president made it clear today,” he added. “No more.”

But at the weekend Ms May defended the Mr Trump’s decision to leave the summit early, adding it was to prepare for his looming talks with North Korea.

“Yes, he left this summit early – because he is going to Singapore to sit down with Kim Jong-un to discuss the denuclearisation of North Korea,” she claimed.