The G20 Summit is an annual meeting of the 20 largest economies around the world. The meeting includes heads of state of 19 member countries and representatives of the European Union (EU). These representatives discuss how to work together to provide stability in the global economy. All 19 countries, plus the EU, collectively account for almost 85% of global GDP, 80% of international trade, and almost two-thirds of the world population. This is a statistically accurate way of saying the G20 is a big deal.
The G20 is always met with large protests. As a summit of the world’s biggest countries, the meeting is the pinnacle of globalization and is an easy target for much of its criticisms. The summit this year, however, features a paradox. The President of the United States, the world’s single largest economy and historical supporter of globalization, is deeply anti-globalist. As a candidate, Donald Trump was anti-trade, anti-establishment, and hostile to the global economic order. It remains to be seen how exactly he will affect that economic order in the long term, but his actions now are isolating the US in the near term.
When no one wants to sit with you at lunch
The 2017 G20 had an expansive agenda, going beyond the usual topics of international trade and global growth. Angela Merkel, PM of Germany, brought refugee concerns to the forefront. Theresa May of Great Britain brought the conversation to homegrown terrorism. India was praised for improving the ease with which international firms can do business in the country and for introducing labor reforms that will supposedly ease burdens on Indian workers. Nineteen of the 20 members agreed to fight protectionist measures enacted around the world and try to secure free trade. And in an unprecedented move, the rest of the G20 split from the US on the meeting’s final communiqué, reaffirming the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions.
One each of these issues, President Trump has remained silent or taken stances against the mainstream consensus. Indeed, it’s hard to contemplate on which of these issues he can actively do the most damage. The international economy is a beautifully complex web of interdependent strings and a disturbance in one place can cause ripples in all places. Trump’s Commerce Department is currently undergoing a review of whether China is dumping steel on the US market that unfairly prices out domestic steel producers (it does). Under a little-used law, the Trump administration can impose large tariffs on steel and other imports if it finds that such dumping places US national security under threat (it doesn't). This can do huge damage to the global economy.
Climate change is another issue. Without the backing of the US federal government, the Paris Agreement loses significant weight. Fortunately, the private sector and city governments are stepping up to fill the void and promising new initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and increase production of renewable energy.
The sanctity of upcoming democratic elections was arguably at stake here as well. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met face-to-face for the first time at the G20. With federal investigations and congressional testimony abound about how Russia interfered in the presidential election, this meeting between the two men was highly anticipated. Of course, to appear like he actually gives a rat’s behind, Trump asked Putin if he was involved in election meddling, and Putin denied. That was good enough for Trump and they moved onto other topics. However, with upcoming elections in Europe, particularly Germany, there is justifiable fear of Russia meddling to sow further discord between the US and its allies.
The G20 this year was a dense affair. A lot of issues were discussed and the orange in the room remained apart from everyone. The G20 itself is a big milestone in geopolitics every year, but it only discusses issues of import in broad strokes. Nevertheless, Donald Trump’s refusal to join the consensus on issues from climate change to international trade only serve to isolate the United States on matters that the rest of the world is moving ahead with.
