G20 Trade Ministers Meet Amidst Rising Tensions Over Trump Tariffs

G20 trade ministers gathered in Milwaukee for two days of intensive talks amidst rising tensions between the US and its trading partners. President Donald Trump's global tariffs have cast a pall over the gathering, prompting countries to seek cooperation outside the world's biggest economy.

The talks come as the US-Canada trade war deepens, with waves of US tariffs and investigations into member countries over excess industrial capacity. China has rejected worries about its exports and criticism of overcapacity, seen as unfairly driving down prices by flooding markets.

Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski urged for a lowering of trade barriers, citing the negative effects of tariffs on companies and customers. He expressed hope that US partners would stick to earlier deals, including one between the US and EU to cap Trump's duties at 15%.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer maintained that the US 'is not anti-trade' but acknowledged existing deals with trading partners like the EU and Japan. He downplayed the urgency of striking a deal with Canada, where certain products face a US ban due to their trade spat.