Milwaukee, October 2 (Daily Kiran) : G20 countries have reached a consensus to condemn the use of food and agricultural products as trade weapons. U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer announced this agreement, describing it as a crucial step to prevent these products from being used for economic or political pressure.
This agreement emerged from several days of discussions during the G20 trade ministers’ meeting held in Milwaukee, where the United States prioritized this issue on the agenda of major global economies. Greer expressed satisfaction, stating, “After days of discussions and the willingness of members to take action, we are pleased to announce that we have reached consensus on a G20 statement condemning the weaponization of food through trade, which will be released later today.”
He emphasized that this move is essential to ensure that agricultural products are not exploited as tools of economic or political coercion. Greer noted that the topic was raised during the U.S. presidency of the G20 because the trade of food and agricultural goods can be used to exert pressure on nations.
During the discussions, Greer highlighted the potential dangers of using food trade as a weapon, which can threaten livelihoods in targeted countries, disrupt competition, and undermine trust in the global trading system. He acknowledged that while the weaponization of food was a new topic for G20 discussions, it is not a recent problem.
The G20 members had a unique opportunity this week to issue a collective statement against the weaponization of food, aiming to raise awareness on this critical issue and help mitigate its global impact.
However, in contrast to the agreement on food issues, G20 members could not reach consensus on two other significant topics discussed in Milwaukee: forced labor and excess production capacity. Greer lamented the lack of agreement on a statement regarding forced labor in global supply chains, stating, “It is unfortunate that we could not reach consensus on this issue.” Instead, a smaller group of trade partners will issue a joint statement aimed at eliminating forced labor from global supply chains.
Additionally, the G20 failed to agree on a statement concerning excess production capacity, although Greer noted that there was widespread recognition of the need for action on this issue. He pointed out that excess capacity is viewed as a problem in the steel industry but also affects sectors such as automobiles, batteries, solar panels, chemicals, and others.
The United States is hosting the G20 in 2026. Greer remarked that this group represents approximately 85 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population, underscoring its potential role in addressing global trade system challenges.
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