Biarritz Summit a work in progress

United States President Donald Trump says he is getting on well with his western allies at the G7 summit in France. His comments come as reports emerge of rifts between the leaders.

US President Donald J. Trump (2-L) and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) hold a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, 25 August Source: AAP

The G7 gathering is taking place as concerns strengthen about a global economic downturn and as international disunity on a range of issues strains decades old allegiances. Major disagreements over trade protectionism, climate change and Iran are causing tensions between the nations. Mr Trump arrived in France shortly after escalating his trade war with China in a tit-for-tat battle between the world's largest economies.

Veteran Italian journalist, Giampiero Gramaglia, reports.

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