Trade ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) major economies are continuing a second day of meetings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as governments confront growing tensions over tariffs, industrial overcapacity and the future of global trade rules.
The two-day G20 Trade Ministerial is being hosted by the United States, which holds the group’s rotating presidency. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has used the meeting to promote the Trump administration’s priorities, including addressing forced labor in global supply chains, industrial overcapacity and changes to the international trade system.
The gathering comes amid significant disruption to global trade following President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Washington has imposed tariffs on numerous trading partners, while several countries have criticized the measures and sought ways to reduce their exposure to U.S. trade policy.
Canada is among the countries using the meeting to strengthen trade relationships outside the United States. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is expected to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as well as officials from India and the European Union.
Sidhu has emphasized Canada’s support for open, predictable and rules-based trade, while Ottawa continues efforts to diversify the country’s trading relationships. Canadian officials say non-U.S. trade increased by 17% over the past year, reaching about C$33 billion.
Trade ministers are also discussing concerns surrounding global steel overcapacity. On the sidelines of the Milwaukee meeting, a group of 28 mostly Western countries agreed to work toward additional tariffs on Chinese steel and other sources of excess production capacity.
China has rejected accusations that its industrial policies are creating harmful overcapacity, arguing that its exports provide high-quality products at competitive prices. The disagreement reflects wider divisions over industrial policy and how global trade rules should address government support for domestic industries.
The meetings are expected to conclude with further discussions and a press conference from Greer. While major breakthroughs remain uncertain, the talks provide an opportunity for the world’s largest economies to discuss how to manage escalating trade disputes and strengthen the international trading system.
Swifteradio.com
