China says 'divergent opinions' contributed to lack of G20 consensus
China attributed the failure to reach a G20 consensus on overcapacity and forced labor to divergent opinions fueled by U.S. tariffs. Trade ministers were unable to produce a joint statement during recent talks in Milwaukee.
Why it matters
The breakdown in G20 trade negotiations reflects escalating geopolitical and economic tensions between the U.S. and China.
China said on Sunday (October 4, 2026) that "divergent opinions" fuelled by U.S. tariffs contributed to the lack of agreement on overcapacity and forced labour at the G20.
The United States holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 major economies this year, which also includes China, India, France, Germany and Japan.
Trade ministers held two days of talks this week in Milwaukee, but failed to reach agreements on countering overcapacity and forced labour, criticisms commonly aimed at China.
A draft ministerial statement against excess capacity, seen as driving costs down unfairly, "was supported by all but a handful of members", top U.S. trade official Jamieson Greer said after the talks.
The draft called on all countries to move to eliminate structural excess capacity in their economies, among other actions.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in