**Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, pictured at the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in the Niagara region. / GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PHOTO**

Canada’s stalled trade talks with the United States were notably absent from the agenda as G7 foreign ministers met in the Niagara region this week. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed she did not raise the issue during her meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“Minister LeBlanc is working hard on this file every single day,” Anand told reporters. “And I am here to talk about the work that the G7 ministers are doing together.”

Ministers issued a joint communiqué addressing multiple geopolitical crises, from the fragile ceasefire in Gaza to security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, while reaffirming support for Ukraine following renewed Russian attacks.

As part of the joint communiqué, the ministers said they are “pursuing partnerships that drive economic development, innovation, resilient and sustainable supply chains, and shared prosperity and security beyond the G7” in relation to the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan and the G7 Roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals and the Production Alliance.

“We expressed particular concern with the use of non-market policies and practices to disrupt critical minerals supply chains, as well as other forms of market distortions including overcapacity. In this regard, we welcome the results of the recent U.S.–China discussions and discourage any future policy impediments to predictable trade, including in critical minerals,” the statement said. “G7 members agreed to pursue concrete initiatives, jointly with partners, to address vulnerabilities by reducing our dependencies, and strengthening our collective economic resilience and security.”

Additionally, Anand held bilateral meetings with:

Yvette Cooper, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister
Motegi Toshimitsu, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Canada has shown that principled democracy and diplomacy still matter, and that when we lead with conviction, others will come with us. We have the resources that the world wants and the values to which others aspire,” Anand said in her closing speech. “Over the past year, we have leveraged our diplomatic and strategic relationships, not just to advance global stability, but to deliver real benefits to Canadians from energy security, to economic opportunity. As we close our G7 presidency, I want to thank our partners and outreach countries for their collaboration and all Canadians for their support and trust in our leadership on the world stage. As France takes on the presidency, I wish my friend Minister [Jean-Noël] Barrot every success in carrying forward this vital work. Canada will continue to lead with resolve as a steadfast partner, a trusted ally and a force for peace, prosperity and resilience around the world.”