Trump 'upsetting the apple cart' says political economist on G7 summit

Wasanga Mehana, in for 702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane, speaks to political economist Dr. Dale McKinley.

The G7 leaders meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, are expected to end their three-day summit today.

McKinley says US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs and the conflict in the Middle East top the agenda.

The group, including Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and the European Union, has called for a de-escalation of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

McKinley states he is not surprised Trump left the summit early, reportedly to address this conflict, as he believes Trump has contempt for such gatherings. 

"That's part of the problem is he's upsetting the apple cart so to speak of the global situation and what has usually been the case where people sit down and have serious discussions and as a result of that what you're having is a sort of truncated summit without him. Without others knowing exactly what he's going to do next."  

- Dr. Dale McKinley, Political economist

Mckinley states, however, that regarding the global economy, we are in very tough times, and it is not just about Trump's tariffs.

Several other non-G7 members were invited to the summit, including Ukraine, Mexico and South Africa. 

McKinley says it's a particularly difficult time for outlier countries like ours, as we're dependent on these larger kinds of relationships.

He says diplomacy is fundamental.

"...it is sort of gritting your teeth and bearing this particular period and seeing if we can get through it. I mean right now we've got a potential massive war on our hands that could explode and oil prices and other things could go through the roof and that could fundamentally impact on our economy as well as many others."

- Dr. Dale McKinley, Political economist

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