US President Donald Trump has told Group of Seven leaders that the United States wants a quick end to trade practices that he says have led to an exodus of American companies and jobs to other countries.

Key points: Mr Trump angered his G7 partners last week with tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

Mr Trump angered his G7 partners last week with tariffs on steel and aluminium imports He said US had been taken advantage of and vowed to hold firm until US goods had "fair" access to markets

He said US had been taken advantage of and vowed to hold firm until US goods had "fair" access to markets Leaders released a communique agreeing on the need for "free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade"

Mr Trump, who angered his G7 partners last week with tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, the European Union and Mexico as part of his "America First" agenda, vowed to hold firm until US goods had "fair" access to markets.

"The United States has been taken advantage of for decades and decades," Mr Trump said at a press conference on the second day of a two-day summit in Canada.

He said he had suggested to the other G7 leaders that all trade barriers, including tariffs and subsidies, be eliminated.

"You go tariff-free, you go barrier-free, you go subsidy free," he said.

"I did suggest it and people I guess were going to go back to the drawing board."

Mr Trump will next fly to Singapore for his meeting with Kim Jong-un. ( Reuters: Yves Herman )

'Unusual long, frank rant'

Mr Trump denied that the summit had been contentious, a remark that contradicted what one G7 official described as a bitter harangue on Friday between the US President and his counterparts over tariffs.

In an "extraordinary" exchange, Mr Trump repeated a list of grievances about US trade — mainly with the European Union and Canada, a French presidency official said.

"And so began a long litany of recriminations, somewhat bitter reports that the United States was treated unfairly, that the trading system was totally unfavourable to the United States, the American economy, American workers, the middle class," the official said.

"In short, a long, frank rant which is undoubtedly very unusual in this kind of format."

French President Emmanuel Macron responded in a "courteous but very firm tone" to present the European side of the story, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chimed in as well, the official said.

On Saturday, Mr Trump arrived late for the first working session on gender equality but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau forged ahead with opening remarks without him, commenting wryly about "stragglers".

Leaders agree on need for 'free, fair trade'

Mr Trump repeated a list of grievances about US trade. ( Reuters: Leah Millis )

At the conclusion of the summit leaders released a communique agreeing on the need for "free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade" and the importance of fighting protectionism.

"We strive to reduce tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers and subsidies," the leaders' statement read.

British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed the statement that recognised the need to maintain sanctions on Russia after Mr Trump floated the suggestion that the country be allowed back in the group.

Ms May also reiterated the need to avoid tit-for-tat actions in the trade dispute between the EU and the US, adding however that Britain had registered its "deep disappointment at the unjustified decision by the US to apply tariffs to EU steel and aluminium imports" at the meeting.

"These are jointly shared principles, although the pitfalls lie in the details," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a press conference before the release of the communique.

Mr Macron described it as a good first step that represented the G7 nations' desire to stabilise the situation.

"Nevertheless, I do not consider that with a declaration all is obtained and it is obvious that we will have in the coming weeks, the next months, to continue to work," Mr Macron said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he told Mr Trump that readmitting Russia "is not something that we are even remotely looking at at this time".

Mr Trump had earlier denied that the summit had been contentious. ( Reuters: Yves Herman )

Trump to skip criticism at news conferences

Mr Trump left the summit earlier than planned on Saturday to fly to Singapore to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which he described as a "mission of peace".

His early departure means he will miss a working session among the leaders on climate change and clean energy, as well as talks among the G7 and poorer countries focused on the health of oceans.

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The early exit also means he will be gone before allies begin closing news conferences likely to be laden with criticism of the US stance on trade and Mr Trump's abrupt suggestion on Friday that Russia be re-admitted to the elite grouping.

Russia was suspended from the group in 2014 because of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Ms Merkel said EU countries at the summit agreed that the conditions to readmit Russia had not been met and even Moscow seemed to reject the suggestion.

Mr Trump's presidency has been clouded by a federal investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and possible collusion by his campaign.

Both Moscow and Mr Trump have denied the allegations.

Ms Merkel said that the conditions to readmit Russia to the summit had not been met. ( AP: Evan Vucci )

Reuters