France’s finance chief Eric Lombard said the Group of Seven can make progress on resolving differences with the US on divisive issues including trade, even if officials meeting over the next two days fail to deliver a final communique.

Ministers and central bankers meeting in Canada face the difficult task of avoiding conflict with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and finding common ground with a US administration that is hitting its allies with tariffs. Support for Ukraine and tackling the causes of global trade imbalances are also top of the agenda.

“I don’t think we’ll definitively resolve any of these subjects but it’s clear we are gradually getting improvements and a better understanding,” Lombard told Bloomberg in an interview Wednesday on the sidelines of the G-7. “I’m very practical — the aim is to progress and if we can’t get a communique, we’ll get one next time, it’s not a problem.”

Lombard’s comments aim to ease the brinkmanship over the meetings, the success of which is typically measured by whether the group of advanced economies can agree on a joint statement. 

A final agreement on a communique is in doubt on this occasion as the standard language on commitments to a rules-based multilateral system is at odds with the sweeping tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.

Lombard has sought to deescalate tensions with Washington that peaked in early April when Trump announced so-called reciprocal tariffs on nations around the world, before largely pausing them for 90 days. 

Speaking in Banff, the French finance minister said despite the economic aggression against allies, the US is increasingly confirming its commitments to multilateral negotiations and global issues, including with Bessent’s presence at the meeting. 

“In reality, after several months of working with this administration, it’s clear that we have strong points of agreement in many areas,” Lombard said. 

One topic where the group is likely to find at least some consensus is on China, which the G-7 called out last year for non-market practices that undermine the economies of other countries. 

Lombard said that while France is concerned about Chinese over-capacities, it is cautious about targeting one country in particular for criticism. 

“China is an important partner that we can work with — the problem of global imbalances is broad,” he said. 

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.