Trump doctrine confounds G-7 as ministers kick can to Sicily

Rome

GROUP-OF-SEVEN ministers slowly coming to terms with the reality of Donald Trump's administration are about to leave the heavy lifting to their bosses.

Finance chiefs in Italy at the weekend spoke of an improving relationship with their US counterpart Steven Mnuchin, in a contrast to previous encounters. But with their gathering in Bari cementing rather than mending disagreements on free trade, the risk is that the diplomatic truce they achieved unwinds when Mr Trump himself meets G-7 leaders on the island of Sicily later this month.

"They couldn't do more for now," said Simone Romano, a research fellow in economics at Rome Institute for International Affairs. "At the upcoming G-7 leaders meeting, Trump is a bit of unknown qu…