Sign up for a daily newsletter defining what matters in business and markets

Stories

Merkel and Macron: we won't renegotiate Paris deal

Evan Vucci / AP

The heads of state and government of Germany, France, and Italy — fellow G7 leader Theresa May was notably absent — issued a joint statement that "[takes] note with regret" President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and hits back at Trump's call to renegotiate the deal.

Summing it up: "We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies, and economies."

And French President Emmanuel Macron gave a televised address on Trump's decision, stating that, "On climate, there is no plan B because there is no planet B," adding, "The United States has turned its back on the world, but France will not turn its back on Americans." The kicker:

QuoteMake our planet great again

Trump's foreign calls: After making the announcement, Trump called Merkel, Macron, May and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to personally explain his decision. The White House said Trump reassured the leaders that the U.S. "remains committed to the Transatlantic alliance" and to protecting the environment.

May sides with Europe: If any of the four was going to support Trump's move it would have been May, but a readout from the U.K. side says she "expressed disappointment" with Trump's decision.