Think 7 USA 2020: Report of the Think 7 Summit
Introduction
Think 7 USA 2020 was held on May 14 and 15, 2020, by videoconference from its hub in
Washington DC. It was designed, organized and hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International
Center for Scholars, with support from the G7 Research Group based at the Munk School of
Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
Think 7 USA 2020 assembled 27 high-level experts from all G7 members, including the European
Union and neighboring countries, with leading reputations in the five key areas that the G7
presidency itself had identified as the focus for the summit this year. The Think 7 thus focused on
health, economic recovery, trade, energy and environment, and peace and security. The 27
participants came from think tanks and universities, with contributions from those who with highlevel
experience inside their government teams, especially in the United States.
Informed by the experience of the inaugural, full-blown Think 7 launched in Canada’s year as G7
host in 2018, and the subsequent Think 7 in France in 2019, Think 7 USA 2020 sought to make
an independent, innovative and influential contribution tightly tied to the summit’s agenda
priorities.
The result was the 25 consensus recommendations contained in this report. They are followed by
the list of the participants and their biographies, and the rationales upon which the
recommendations are based. We welcome your thoughts in the days and months ahead. These
recommendations are presented in the form of commitments that the G7 leaders can adopt and
present in their own summit communiqué(s).
In conclusion, we are grateful to the splendid support of Jane Harman, director, president and
CEO of the Wilson Center. We also appreciate the support of our staff and colleagues, especially
Jacqueline Orr, Savannah Boylan, Mariana Sanchez Ramirez and Gerassimos Pepelassis.
At the G7 Research Group, we are also grateful to Madeline Koch, executive director, and many of
our researchers: Stéphanie Bussière, Meagan Byrd, Alessandra Cicci, Sonja Dobson, Hiromitsu
Higashi, Maria Marchyshyn, Bogdan Stovba, Alissa Wang, Brittaney Warren, Kat Yampolsky and
Mary Zelenova.
Christopher Sands
Director, Canada Institute
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
John Kirton,
Director, G7 Research Group
University of Toronto
Contributors
Shihoko Goto
Meg Lundsager
Former U.S. Executive Director and Alternate Executive Director, International Monetary Fund
Christopher Sands
Earl Anthony Wayne
Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University
Duncan Wood
Canada Institute
The mission of the Wilson Center's Canada Institute is to raise the level of knowledge of Canada in the United States, particularly within the Washington, DC policy community. Research projects, initiatives, podcasts, and publications cover contemporary Canada, US-Canadian relations, North American political economy, and Canada's global role as it intersects with US national interests. Read more
Indo-Pacific Program
The Indo-Pacific Program promotes policy debate and intellectual discussions on US interests in the Asia-Pacific as well as political, economic, security, and social issues relating to the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region. Read more
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe’s capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include “Ukraine in Europe” – an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine’s European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe’s energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more
Mexico Institute
The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more
