G-20 leaders end summit with statement noting the US climate change stance

World Today

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media during a press conference at the end of the G-20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany, Saturday, July 8, 2017. The leaders of the group of 20 meet July 7 and 8. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Leaders from the world’s largest economies traveled to Germany ready to discuss trade, climate change, and global threats.

After two days, those gathered for the G-20 Summit did find common positions.  Most agreed on all points made in their final statement – with one notable exception.

CGTN’s Guy Henderson reports from Hamburg.

A new term has emerged at this summit – the G19 plus 1. The United States has its very own paragraph on the future of energy in the final communique and it includes the words “fossil fuels.”

The U.S. did join the others in backing free trade. But it wants something in return — primarily, action on cheap Chinese steel imports — an alternative, perhaps, to unilateral tariffs Europe worried may have sparked a trade war.

Perhaps all that left the sole dissenter in better spirits. A few days ago Donald Trump had expressed frustration at Chinese efforts on North Korea. When he met with President Xi Jinping, it was all smiles again.