G20 Summit a Mixed Bag for Trump

By Edwin M. Truman

Edwin M. Truman, nonresident senior fellow since July 2013, joined the Peterson Institute for International Economics as senior fellow in 2001. Previously he served as assistant secretary of the US Treasury for International Affairs from December 1998 to January 2001 and returned as counselor to the secretary March–May 2009. He directed the Division of International Finance of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1977 to 1998. From 1983 to 1998, he was one of three economists on the staff of the Federal Open Market Committee.

Leaders of the world’s 20 most powerful economies met for the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, last week to discuss a wide range of multilateral issues, including international trade, climate change, and international security. This was also a chance for U.S. President Donald Trump to meet face to face with his international counterparts, many for the first time. Trump’s side meeting with Russian President Vladimir took center stage.  The U.S. president spent much of his time at the summit in bilateral meetings with other leaders, often neglecting to attend multilateral discussions on issues like the new G20 Compact with Africa initiative. The Cipher Brief’s Fritz Lodge asked Edwin Truman, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury for International Affairs for his thoughts about the summit. 

The Cipher Brief: What is your initial reaction to the G20 summit?

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