Canadian host of G7 finance talks optimistic despite trade turmoil [Video]

Canada’s Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne expressed cautious optimism Tuesday at the start of a G7 finance leaders’ gathering in his country, even as the advanced economies grapple with fallout from trade turbulence.

His comments came as finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven economies — the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada — meet for three days in Banff, in western Canada.

As he prepared to welcome his counterparts, Champagne told AFP the world’s economies are at a crucial moment in history, adding that Canada’s priority in its G7 presidency is to “restore stability and growth.”

“The G7 has always been at the heart of major global issues, and it’s up to us to take up this challenge,” he said in an interview.

The unity of the G7 has been shaken since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, with the …