Finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 gathered on 31 August 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina, for a two-day meeting chaired by the United States.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh urged participants to focus on boosting economic growth as the primary way to address rising global debt.
The meeting takes place amid an energy shock caused by the war with Iran, which has disrupted oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed prices higher.
The United States is actively promoting the idea of isolating Iran, including the threat of secondary sanctions, to stabilize energy markets.
Another key topic was trade imbalances, particularly China's huge surplus in goods trade, and calls to reconsider trade terms with Beijing.
Tariffs are also being discussed in parallel: Canada is preparing retaliatory measures after the failure of negotiations over new U.S. duties.
The IMF forecasts a slowdown in global growth and a rise in inflation this year, adding pressure on meeting participants.
For the first time in a long while, Russia's finance minister appeared at the summit — the invitation from the Trump administration drew discontent among European colleagues.
Financial leaders also touched on the impact of AI investments on the economy and potential risks to financial stability.
How will these discussions affect real decisions on tariffs and energy in the coming months?
The meeting will last until 1 September, and final statements are expected with particular attention from markets.
