Ottawa, June 9 (RHC)-- Confrontation between the U.S. and its traditional allies has continued at the 44th summit of the Group of Seven (G-7), lowering expectations for a breakthrough at the talks.
 
Washington's allies contradicted trade data provided by U.S. President Donald Trump with different numbers, while Trump firmly maintained his position that Washington was at a disadvantage, according to the Reuters news agency.
 
During the first day of the two-day summit in the Canadian town of La Malbaie in Quebec, the U.S. partners were angered by the U.S. president's recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, the European Union and Mexico.
 
Canada, Mexico and the EU had initially been exempted from the tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum as they were announced in March.
 
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday that her country will not change its stance with regard to "illegal" US steel and aluminum tariffs.  Freeland said Canada will retaliate against Washington's tariffs, adding that her country does not pose a national security threat to the United States.