Greer Says G20 Trade Ministers Split Over Excess Factory Capacity, Forced Labor

Trade ministers from the Group of 20 nations agreed to denounce food trade coercion but were divided over excess industrial capacity and forced labor in supply chains, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Oct. 1.

Speaking to reporters following a two-day trade ministerial meeting in Milwaukee, Greer said some ministers had raised concerns about excess industrial capacity, potentially putting downward pressure on product prices, but failed to agree on how to address it.

“Nearly all countries agree that this is an issue that requires action, and nearly all countries agree that our current system of trade remedies or responses is inadequate ​to solve this problem,” he said.

Greer said the United States will ​continue working with like-minded trading partners to address overcapacity, noting that it has taken unilateral tariff measures to protect American industries.

China, a G20 member, has rejected claims that its industrial policies have created excess capacity ​and accused Western countries of using the issue to justify protectionist measures.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This is a developing story and will be updated.