Évian-les-Bains: lakeside town hosting the G7 summit and AI talks; famed for its mineral water and as a site of high-stakes diplomacy.
Leaders of the world’s seven largest economies are gathering in Evian-les-Bains as divisions over Iran, Ukraine, and economic imbalances test cohesion. A deal to end the Iran war is anticipated, but consensus remains elusive as European allies push for firmer action and the U.S. position under Trump remains uncertain.
Trump will attend a dinner with Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles following the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains. The events center on Ukraine and Iran, with Trump set for bilateral talks with European leaders and others including Qatar, UAE, Egypt and India.
Trump has warned at the G7 summit that the United States will impose a 100% tariff on all champagnes and French wines unless France scraps its digital services tax. Macron has refused to drop the tax, escalating a trade conflict tied to tech levies and EU-US diplomacy.
The European Parliament has ratified the EU-US trade agreement, moving toward full implementation despite ongoing tensions. Tariffs on most EU exports are set to drop to 0% for many US goods, while the US maintains a 15% levy on many EU products. The process now moves to final national approvals, with sunset clauses and safeguards keeping pressure on both sides.
Tech CEOs including Anthropic's Dario Amodei, OpenAI's Sam Altman and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis have met with G7 leaders at a closed lunch in Évian to press the U.S. to lead an international coalition on frontier-AI rules and structured access. The meeting has followed U.S. export controls that forced Anthropic to cut global access to its newest models.
The G7 has agreed to assess frontier AI risks and explore a trusted partners scheme to give non-U.S. access to advanced models while safeguarding security. Leaders warn that access can be blocked and stress the need for international governance and sovereign computing power.
At the Group of 7 summit, Donald Trump has denied U.S. investment in a proposed $300 billion Iran reconstruction fund and has criticized past deals with Tehran. Officials say the agreement would reopen Hormuz, lift oil export restrictions temporarily, and push nuclear talks into a 60-day phase. Other leaders warn of broader financial relief being extended to Iran.
Tensions escalate between Washington and Riyadh after Saudi Arabia blocks U.S. use of its bases and airspace for Project Freedom, prompting a rethink of the U.S. Gulf military footprint even as officials insist the partnership remains strong.