German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble (centre) at the meeting in Germany. Ministers from G20 nations have gathered in the picturesque western German spa town of Baden Baden since Friday for a meeting clouded by fears of growing protectionism fuelled by Trump's stance. Trump, whose tough "America First" talk helped win him the presidency, has withdrawn the US from a trans-Pacific free trade pact and attacked export giants China and Germany. That stance has grated with Washington's partners, who are trying to persuade US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to hold fast to a long-standing G20 anti-protectionism commitment. On Thursday, following talks with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, Mnuchin said Washington had no desire to fight "trade wars" with other economic powers.

Source: The Local March 18, 2017 10:18 UTC