President Donald Trump wants Russia readmitted to the G-7 gathering of economic powers. Even though Russia doesn’t do as much business as some of the other G-7 members, it should still be readmitted. There is an old saying: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 

Russia was kicked out of the G-7 when it invaded Crimea and fought with eastern Ukraine. First of all, Ukraine is not a NATO member and we shouldn’t be trying to police Russia’s backyard. Having Russia back in the G-7 would actually bring stability to that part of the world because Russia would feel it is being respected, and sometimes that in itself brings peace.

Canadien Prime Minister Trudeau is threatening Trump with tariffs on U.S. dairy farmers that would devastate farmers in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Bring Russia back in the G-7 and work out some peaceful solution with Canada regarding any kind of punitive tariffs. 

Tariffs don’t always work. They sure didn’t work for President Herbert Hoover in the 1930s. All they did was prolong the Great Depression for several more years. Canada is one of our closest allies and there needs to be a level playing field when it comes to trade between those two countries.

William McKee

Flowery Branch

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