At the summit of the 20 most important countries of the world in Japan, will rotate once again, all the US President. Its Trade disputes with almost all regions of the world to determine the Agenda. From Osaka Bernd Riegert.
Last Rehearsal before the summit in the Congress-centre of Osaka
The host of this year’s G20 summit, the Abe, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo, will try on Friday and Saturday in Osaka, the Meeting of the 20 most important industrialised and emerging countries in the world not only a man circles. US President, Donald Trump has launched prior to his departure to Japan new threats against China, but also allies in the dispute over trade benefits out of it. The Japanese have set still, issues such as the fight against greenhouse gases, plastic waste in the sea , the Ageing of the Western society and the future of work in the digital economy on the agenda. In these issues, progress has been made, asserted a senior EU Diplomat, but the work in the G20-committees, which prepare the summit, the nationally oriented policy of the USA and the reaction of other countries become more difficult.
Trade, Trade, Trade
“One of the most urgent tasks of the G20 countries, it is the confidence in the multilateral trading system to restore. The trade conflicts have started to weigh on the prospects for economic growth strong,” said Koij Tomita, the G20 Commissioned by the Japanese government. Tomita is one of the “Sherpas” sub-dealers, who are preparing the summit documents, and the possible trade-offs to explore. Tomita and many of his colleagues want to bring the heads of state and government to a Reform of the world trade organization (WTO), in principle, to initiate. The trading rules do not meet the requirements, the committees of the WTO would have to be revised. Many of the G20 countries agree, what was also decided at the last summit in Buenos Aires, half a year ago. However, when it comes to concrete steps, breaks out again, the dispute between the USA, China and Europe.
Golfing for the team spirit: Japan’s Prime Minister Abe (li.) wants to convince US President, Trump of partnership in the trade (archive)
Trump against the Rest of the world
US President, Donald Trump was accused on Wednesday of almost all the countries of the world, you would take advantage of the United States in world trade and “unfair” treatment. The Europeans, Chinese, Mexicans, and others urge the United States, in return, abide by international rules. On the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Osaka, the two main protagonists, the US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping, want to meet for a summit put together. Trump threatened prior to his departure to Osaka with further punitive tariffs on Chinese products. “I would not suggest further duties on it, if this works, if we get no Deal,” said Trump to the channel Fox Business Network. The duties could now be only 10 percent instead of the previously announced 25 percent, limited Trump. “I want a Deal, it is possible. But if we create no, I am with the current Situation is also very satisfied,” the President said further. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the speak to in China is, do not believe that there is a breakthrough, but that the Chinese, who have in turn imposed duties on US Goods, to return to the negotiating table.
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Warnings about a weak global economy
So far, Goods to a value of approximately 200 billion dollars are affected by the trade dispute. In the worst case, 300 billion dollars could be added dollars. “The Chinese economy goes down the drain. Want to negotiate”, was sure Donald Trump in the Interview victory. “In the last year, the United States have created a difficult manageable network of trade conflicts,” says an EU Diplomat in Osaka in the preparations of the summit. Not only China, Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, the EU, and also hosts Japan will have to contend with punitive tariffs and the threats from the White house. The lead, said David Malpass, the President of the world Bank, in the past week to a “weakening of Confidence in the company, a decrease in world trade and sluggish investment in Emerging and developing countries.” The Head of the international monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, warned that the penalties imposed and the still face duties of between the United States and China threatened that could lead to a contraction of the world economy by 0.3 to 0.5 per cent in the coming year.
Although U.S. companies Donald Trump, to warn, to change its course, this is determined probably more. Still, the American economy is good, unemployment is extremely low. Stock market prices reach record levels. “Our model is successful. Others should emulate”, recommended a senior official from the White house before the summit.
The next conflict seems to be inevitable. In the approach to Osaka dam, US President, Trump complained about allegedly high tariffs, which will raise India to the USA. “Unacceptable” was the approach of the Indians, tweeted Trump. He wants to speak at a Four-on-one meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra modi in Japan.
The WTO should be reformed
The “T20”, a global Association of think-tanks and Economic experts, has asked the G20 participants to take an in-depth Reform of the world trading system. Whether this can succeed in Osaka with the United States and other actors, is questionable. Donald Trump and not only he, is finally, according to the motto “My country first”. The European Union also calls for reforms and “rules-based international Trade”. With Canada and Japan, in contrast to the USA, just only comprehensive free trade agreements. Negotiations with other regions of the world to run. The EU has also the greatest interest of free trade, the EU-Commission in a paper to the G20 summit. Almost half of the economic output (48,5%) is based in the 28 member States on exports. In the United States, this share is only 12 percent.
Pragmatic Approaches
The Japanese hosts want to talk about the Chinese “Belt and road”Initiative, which aims to build infrastructure in Africa, Asia, and increasingly also in European countries with Chinese financing and Chinese construction companies. The “silk road”model is increasingly criticized, because the participating States of the fault and the local population, usually of little benefit. The summit will also confess to a taxation of digital companies, better regulation of the exchange of data and principles for the Internet of things. All decisions, however, are non-binding and voluntary Commitments. The Japanese Sherpa Koji Tomita wants to concentrate on “practical things,” where “virtually” from different States in different ways is defined.
The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron want to once again hold strong arguments for more climate protection and limiting global warming. This is likely to encounter, especially on resistance to the United States, which have adopted the Paris climate agreement of the UN. US President, Trump keeps the climate change , if it does exist at all, not for the people affected.
Well-organized and patient: The police in Osaka on mobile road block in front of Hotels.
Merkel meets with Trump
US President, Trump will hold one and a half days, about nine bilateral Meetings, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin. With him, Trump would like to speak about the conflict with Iran, otherwise, the relationship with Moscow is to be cooled down. Also, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives an audience. To him, the President wants to read due to the purchase of Russian anti-missile weapons, the Levites. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet the President, as well as at the previous G20 summit. What will he say to Merkel, has Trump already announced in the television interview. It is not that Germany is Russia throwing billions of euros for natural gas transactions in the neck, but then no money for his defense spending. The Chancellor is once again trying to explain to the President the meaning of the often criticized Nord-Stream2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
No major protests expected
Around 30,000 policemen to protect the summit participants in the South of the metropolis of Osaka. The schools are closed. The people in Osaka were not called upon to use their cars. Around major Hotels in the downtown Bars and shops not to open it. With large demonstrations in Buenos Aires or even in Hamburg, in the year 2017 is not expected in Japan. Although Attac Japan climate had called guards protests. So far, only a few Hundred participants came.