Asheville (United States) (AFP) – Finance leaders from the Group of 20 major economies open talks Monday at a US-hosted gathering, as the Trump administration seeks consensus on lifting global growth while ramping up economic pressure on Iran.
Issued on: 31/08/2026 - 08:40
3 min Reading time
The gathering of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors takes place Monday and Tuesday in the Blue Ridge Mountains city of Asheville, North Carolina.But looming over the meetings are fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran, a tightening of US trade barriers and questions on whether the group can still work together to address key economic challenges.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent skipped last year's meeting led by South Africa, which has been excluded from the group by the US. Washington holds the rotating presidency this year.Instead, US officials invited Poland to the table, although it is not a permanent G20 member.
People cheer at a protest against the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting in Asheville, North Carolina © Allison Joyce / AFP
