After G7, Japan's Abe says no country benefits from protectionism

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday that no country benefits from protectionism, and that all measures should be consistent with World Trade Organization rules, as he wrapped up a sometimes contentious summit with other Group of Seven leaders in Canada.

G7 leaders on Saturday papered over cracks in their alliance at a summit in Canada but came away with little more than an agreement to disagree as US President Donald Trump defiantly brandished his "America First" agenda.

Abe said there were moments of "intense debate" during the meeting, which focused on trade.

Trump last week slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, the European Union and Mexico. Japan did not win an exemption from the steel and aluminium tariffs despite its close security alliance with the United States.

On the first day of the summit, which was held in Canada's La Malbaie, Trump pitched the idea of discarding all tariffs and trade barriers between the US and its G-7 allies.

Trump will not attend the second day of the two-day summit on account of preparing for the 'historic' summit of him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be held in Singapore on 12 June.

The Group of Seven leaders came to their summit in Canada braced for battle, and while everyone had smiles ready for the cameras, behind the scenes US President Donald Trump delivered recriminations on trade to US allies, leaving the once united club deeply divided. Trade dominated the two-day summit that began on Friday (June 8) with leaders of Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Britain and Italy returning to the topic repeatedly in meetings.

"One could say that we weren't able to completely turn around President Trump's approach on trade, he's continuing to say what he says, fine, so be it," Trudeau said.

Leaders who had vowed to confront Trump over his decision to impose tariffs on US allies last week as part of his "America First" agenda, showered Trump with data one after the other.

Abe said that anxiety and dissatisfaction with globalization at times led to protectionism and intense confrontation between countries.

"But we must not turn back the clock," he said. "For the G7 to have exchanges of measures that restrict trade will not be in the interests of any country," Abe said.

Abe also said the G7 had expressed support for Trump ahead of his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un in Singapore on Tuesday.

Abe reiterated that Japan would be willing to provide economic aid for Pyongyang if the issues of its nuclear and missile programmes, as well as the matter of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korean agents decades ago, were resolved.

"Of course, the problem of North Korea ... is not so easily resolved, but we hope this historic U.S.-North Korea summit will be a success and that progress will be made on the issues of nuclear, missiles and the abductees," he said. "Japan wants to completely cooperate and support this."