Macron chairs G7-China video conference on economic imbalances as summit shifts to multiple policy declarations

French President Emmanuel Macron is chairing a G7-China video conference to address global economic imbalances ahead of a G7 leaders' summit in Evian. While Macron's office sees the talks as a sign of new cooperation, the summit is expected to be tense, largely due to the soured relationship between Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump, with public disagreements over the Iran war, Ukraine aid, tariffs, and NATO.

Trump-Macron relationship evolution

• ▪Macron called recent personal remarks by Trump 'neither elegant nor appropriate' after Trump commented on Macron's wife
• ▪In April, Macron sharply criticized Trump for sending mixed signals about Washington's commitment to NATO after the war in Iran began
• ▪Macron condemned as “brutal and unfounded” new tariffs that Trump imposed on steel, aluminum, and other European imports in early 2025
• ▪By June 2026, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron openly disagreed over tariffs, Ukraine, and the Iran war
• ▪The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron began with a notably long handshake at a 2017 NATO summit
• ▪Macron has argued that Trump's 'America first' policies support the case for a stronger European defense capability to reduce reliance on the U.S.
• ▪Early in their relationship, Macron invited Trump for Bastille Day in 2017, and Trump reciprocated with a White House state dinner for Macron in 2018

G7 summit tensions

• ▪Macron's office stated the conference shows a new willingness from China, the U.S., and Europe to take part in coordinated economic steps
• ▪France is using its G7 presidency to argue that China over-produces, the United States over-consumes, and Europe under-invests
• ▪The video conference precedes the G7 leaders' summit scheduled for the following week in Evian, eastern France
• ▪Participants in the video conference include G7 nations, China, the IMF, and invited countries Brazil, South Korea, India, Kenya, and Egypt
• ▪French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a video conference on June 11, 2026, involving G7 countries and China to address global economic imbalances

Iran war consultation disputes

• ▪After starting the war, Trump publicly complained when European countries declined his requests for their help
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump joined Israel in a war against Iran over its nuclear program in February without consulting other U.S. allies

Ukraine support disagreements

• ▪According to former U.S. ambassador Kurt Volker, waning support for Ukraine from the Trump administration has 'really irritated the French.'
• ▪Macron invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join the G7 leaders' discussions