Merkel set for Trump showdown after vowing climate focus at G20 summit

German chancellor Angela Merkel has set up a tense G20 meeting in Hamburg next week after pledging to focus on climate issues - after Donald Trump pulled the US from the Paris accord earlier this month.

Trump claimed that the agreement was disadvantageous to the country when pulling out of the landmark agreement on 1 June, but Merkel told the German parliament she was adamant about maintaining the deal.

The world’s 20 largest economies will gather in Hamburg next week, in what will be Trump’s first attendance at the summit.

"The differences are obvious and it would be dishonest to try to cover that up. That I won't do," Merkel said.

"The European Union unconditionally stands by its agreement in Paris and will implement it speedily and with determination."

The world’s 20 largest economies will gather in Hamburg next week

The German chancellor added that her country was ‘more determined than ever’ to fulfill the provisions of the Paris accord after it was dumped by Washington.

"More than that: since the decision of the United States to leave the Paris climate agreement, we are more determined than ever to make it a success."

"Those who think that the problems of this world can be solved with isolationism or protectionism are terribly wrong."

The US joins only two other countries that have not signed up to the Paris agreement - Syria and Nicaragua.