Efforts by the world's leading democracies to forge a coordinated response to China's growing economic influence are running into a significant obstacle at this week's Group of Seven summit: President Donald Trump's preference for dealing directly with Beijing instead of building a multilateral front through the G7.

As leaders of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom convene in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains, divisions have emerged over how aggressively to confront what many Western governments describe as Chinese industrial overcapacity and state-backed exports flooding global markets.

French President Emmanuel Macron has made global economic imbalances, particularly concerns surrounding Chinese trade practices, a centerpiece of the three-day summit. Trump, however, has signaled a markedly different approach.

During a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, Trump emphasized the importance of the U.S.-China relationship and downplayed the role of broader international groupings.

"This is the G2," the president told reporters. "They have G7, they have the G8, this is the G2."

The remarks have raised concerns among some allies who were hoping Washington would support a more unified effort to pressure Beijing over industrial subsidies, excess manufacturing capacity, and trade practices that European officials argue distort competition.

The White House's list of priorities for the summit omitted China, instead focusing on artificial intelligence, energy exports, supply chains, migration, and public health. Administration officials have defended the approach, arguing that Washington is already taking action independently.

"The United States is not waiting for the world to hold hands and find a coordinated way to address [China]. We're taking action now through a variety of measures," a senior administration official said during a Saturday press briefing.

The official noted that the administration is "happy to cooperate and coordinate with other countries on how to resolve those massive imbalances."

Macron has spent weeks attempting to build consensus around economic security and global trade imbalances. Ahead of the summit, he convened discussions with G7 nations as well as representatives from China, India, and Brazil as part of a broader effort to address concerns about global economic governance.

European leaders have increasingly indicated they are prepared to act even without Washington's full support.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week, "Where others fail to comply with common rules, we cannot and will not stand idly by," adding that Germany "is on alert against trade practices by other countries that distort competition."

Analysts warn that a lack of transatlantic unity could undermine Western efforts to influence Beijing's economic policies.

"Europe seems ready to move on China," Chad Bown, a former State Department economist, told Politico. "It's the moment we've been waiting for in the United States for a really long time. And there just doesn't seem to be any interest in it" from the Trump administration.

The debate comes as China's export-driven growth model continues to raise concerns among major economies. European officials have argued that Chinese state support for industries ranging from electric vehicles to clean-energy technology has contributed to record trade surpluses and intensified pressure on manufacturers across Europe and North America. 

Macron has sought to frame the issue as one of economic balance and collective action rather than outright confrontation with Beijing.