Trump's unilateralism challenges global rules

The huge divide between the United States and its allies over issues such as trade meant the magnitude of discord at this year's G7 Summit was unprecedented for the bloc of leading industrialized nations.

The acrimonious meeting in Quebec is bad news for the group, which is trying to resurrect its waning clout in the world economy, but also for those hoping it would deliver a positive message on global trade.

Instead, the G7 summit only renewed fears that there is a trade war brewing between the US and its trade partners, including its own allies. Although differences between the seven leaders seemed to have been papered over in their joint statement, US President Donald Trump retracted his endorsement of the joint communiqu�� after the meeting.