US voices 'severe disappointment' over G20 trade talks deadlock

WASHINGTON: The US G20 presidency is "severely disappointed" that some members rejected a statement this week for action against excess industrial capacity, a criticism commonly aimed at China, according to a statement made public Friday.

The United States holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 major economies this year, a grouping that also includes China, India, France, Germany and Japan.

But trade ministers failed to reach agreements on countering overcapacity and forced labour after two days of talks in Milwaukee.

A draft ministerial statement against excess capacity, seen as driving costs down unfairly, "was supported by all but a handful of members," said top US trade official Jamieson Greer.

This had called on all countries to move to eliminate structural excess capacity in their economies, among other actions.

Greer's chair statement, made public Friday, did not specify which countries disagreed.

But China in September objected to wording in a finance ministers' statement calling for members to "eliminate non-market policies."

Asked about the topic on the sidelines of G20 talks, China's international trade representative Li Chenggang would only say that parties expressed their respective opinions.

G20 members similarly did not reach a common position on eliminating forced labor from supply chains. Only Mexico and Argentina joined the United States to issue a statement.

Earlier this year, Washington cited concerns over forced labour to slap sweeping tariffs on dozens of economies, including G20 members.

But G20 trade ministers "agreed that trade in food and agricultural products should not be used as a tool for economic or political coercion," Greer's statement said.--AFP