G20 will commit to fighting protectionism: EU source

“The outcome is good. We have a communique,” one EU official said. “There is just one outstanding issue on climate.”

G20 countries will commit to fighting protectionism in their final summit statement on Saturday but will also give countries the right to protect their markets, an EU source said as the meeting drew to a close.

The outcome represents a compromise with US President Donald Trump who wants to do more to protect domestic companies from foreign competition through his “America First” policy, the source said.

Negotiators from the Group of 20 economies have agreed the outlines of a communique but have one outstanding issue to resolve on climate, EU officials said, adding that they were confident this would be resolved on Saturday.

“The outcome is good. We have a communique,” one EU official said. “There is just one outstanding issue on climate.”

The section that still needs to be resolved by the leaders relates to the U.S. insistence that there be a reference to fossil fuels, the official said.

Source:The Hindu