Full Breakdown
G20 Trade Ministers Stall on Overcapacity and Forced-Labour Rules in Milwaukee
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Trade ministers from the Group of 20 gathered in Milwaukee for a second day of talks, but failed to reach consensus on two key agenda items: curbing excess industrial capacity and banning forced-labour products from supply chains. The United States, holding the year’s rotating G20 presidency, hosted the meeting.
Points of Contention
U.S. and Canada Bilateral Frictions
Greer described the remaining technical issues with Canada as “quite difficult to resolve,” after a pull-aside conversation with Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Greer emphasized that the U.S. Sidhu, meanwhile, highlighted Canada’s priorities: advancing a digital trade pact with the EU, expanding talks with Mercosur, and pursuing an economic partnership with India.
European and Russian Reactions
France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier called the discussions “quite constructive” despite criticism of Russia’s war-driven grain export disruptions. Russia’s economic development minister Maxim Reshetnikov rebuked European leaders for “political slogans,” as reported by the state-run network Russia Today.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nearly all countries agreed that this is an issue that requires action,” — Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US trade official
- “On the contrary, I think the discussions are quite constructive.” — Nicolas Forissier
- “When people talk about Canada and the European Union somehow finding more demand in their countries, I mean, these are very low growth jurisdictions. And low growth plus low growth is still low growth,” — Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US trade official
- “Believe it or not, we have countries in the G20 that do not want to commit to having a prohibition on the import of goods made with forced labour,” — Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US trade official
