G-20 Summit

Haydn Huard, Staff Writer

All G-20 leaders called for reforming the World Trade Organization(WTO). The gathering’s final statement, however, did not mention protectionism after negotiators said the U.S. objected to the wording. Trump has criticized the WTO and taken aggressive trade policies targeting China and the European Union. To see a discussion about the WTO directly with Trump, due to the fact that Trump has made very aggressive trade policies with Foreign countries. Also with recent events coming up might take those slots, with the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, Russia’s aggression towards neighboring countries, Brexit, and many more. It will be hard to focus on one issue at the Summit.

Commerce markets will be happy to hear that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to have a 90-day truce in their trade battle. This was a hot topic in both countries to ensure a healthy economy. For both economic advisors have commented this trade war will not benefit either side.

Trump agreed to delay his plans to raise tariffs Jan. 1 on $200 billion in Chinese goods. Xi agreed to buy a “not yet agreed upon, but very substantial amount of agricultural, energy, industrial” and other products from the United States to reduce America’s huge trade deficit with China, the White House said. This pleases many Americans with Trump’s foreign policies, bringing his approval rating to 50%. The cease-fire will buy time for the two countries to work out their differences. Hopefully, this will cool down tensions with the technology race with the U.S and China.

With the fact that the approval rating has increased for Trump and the U.S global rating has increase, he must be doing something right. Julian Kilgore says “that if the approval rating is increasing and [U.S] are improving, then the G-20 seems more of a success story than failure”.

Western leaders confronted Putin over Russia’s recent seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels and crews, but the diplomatic pressure didn’t seem to bring either side closer to solving the conflict. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of being responsible for the standoff. With Russia accusing Ukraine for trespassing on territory, while Ukraine has stated that they were in neutral territory. Trump cited Russia’s actions as the reason that he canceled a planned meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the summit. Putin tried to convince Trump and the leaders of France and Germany that Russia’s actions were justified from the Washington post. — “even pulling out a piece of paper and drawing a map of the disputed area to make his point”

Even though Russia has engaged in aggression against Ukraine. The meeting with Putin and Trump still needs to happen. The tensions should be settled between the U.S and Russia. Lydia Von schowanenfegal says “Trump should not communicate with Russia” so that tensions should not increase. Increased tensions, could lead to another cold war. Which both sides will not like to see develop again.