BACKGROUND PRESS GAGGLE
BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
ON G20 SESSION ONE: GROWTH, INVESTMENT, AND TRADE
International Exhibition Center
Osaka, Japan
2:14 P.M. JST
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, hello, everyone. So we just came from the first session. There are four sessions, obviously, for the G20 that Japan has put together. It was on growth, investment, and trade.
Prime Minister Abe started off by sharing his vision of all of the countries around the table working collaboratively together to address a number of modern challenges, including digital trade, which is a big priority of his, as well as the new types of economic activity that we don't currently have trade rules for.
He then introduced Christine Lagarde, who, by tradition, gave the first intervention about the state of the world economy from the perspective of the IMF and the types of challenges that the G20 economies really need to take seriously.
And then, President Trump was the first world leader to give an intervention. And he very much focused on his pro-jobs, pro-growth agenda, which involves, obviously, ambitious tax reform, deregulation, creating a positive investment environment, and energy dominance.
He also encouraged economies to work together to address modern challenges to level the playing field for American workers and businesses, and emphasized that all countries could benefit from pro-growth, pro-job policies, and that America wants to see everybody grow.
Then, it turned to President Xi, who gave an intervention mostly discussing China's vision of the world's economy moving forward. Also highlighted "One Belt, One Road."
And then, a number of other world leaders intervened, including President Macron -- I am so tired, so I forgetting everyone in order, but I can get you a list -- and also gave their visions of the types of challenges that we need to be forward-looking about.
And there was a good sense of unity in the room in terms of wanting to work together, which I think is the most positive thing to come out of this session is that everyone recognizes the old playbook doesn’t work and that we really need to focus on what's new.
WTO reform was highlighted, which I think is a big advancement in the G20 from last year.
Q Highlighted by whom?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: By -- every world leader came out in support of wanting to reform the WTO, which was the mandate that we had in Buenos Aires last year. So there's a big deal of enthusiasm for that and something the U.S. has been pushing for well over a decade. And so, we're glad to see that, finally, countries are taking that seriously.
Q Every world leader except for Russia?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I don’t recall if Russia raised that or not. But it was very much the sentiment in the room. DG Azevêdo also spoke as well about the various reform efforts that are happening right now, highlighting those related to the monitoring function, the negotiating function, and the dispute settlement function, and very much encouraged the world leaders to continue their efforts.
Q Did any of the leaders address President Trump about his tariffs -- any of the tariffs -- and the impact that's having on the economy, and some of these issues that you've talked about?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. I don’t recall any direct reference to that. I think the tone was largely positive by the various world leaders. China was less positive in its outlook, which was in stark contrast to basically everybody else. It was more of a collaborative exercise where everyone does acknowledge that the old rules just don’t work and we really need new tools. And so there was just a desire for everyone to work together.
And Japan, at the very beginning, strongly emphasized consensus and wanted to set the tone as a very positive one for folks to really talk about issues that we could work together on.
Q Do you remember anything in particular that made you think that China was less positive? What made you think that? Do you remember any words that they shared? Or --
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: They used the word "unilateralism." It was just a more negative tone, to be honest. I don’t remember the specific phrases that were used, but --
Q Xi Jinping?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes.
Q Okay.
Q Let me ask -- at what point did the President leave the session?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: About five minutes before it ended. So he stayed for the duration of it.
Q (Inaudible) who was in the session with the President?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. So it was Kelly Ann Shaw, Ambassador Lighthizer, and Secretary Mnuchin, for the United States.
Q On other issues that have come up in the bilats -- the President was previewing a number of trade agreements, potentially with Prime Minister Modi. Do you have announcements on when we should be expecting that?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I don’t have any additional information on trade agreements. He's said he's very interested in pursuing bilateral agreements with many countries around the world and really tackling it.
Q He said the announcement was coming very soon.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Let's keep this focused on the session. Unless there's anything else --
Q Was there anything with climate change?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The issue came up around the room.
Q Did we have anything to say about it?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, as I said, the President was one of the very first speakers in the room and really highlighted his broad vision for how other countries can really grow in the same manner that the United States has. So that was really the topic that was addressed.
But there are a variety of other sessions that are happening throughout the next day and a half where various topics will certainly come up.
Q (Inaudible) Huawei and 5G? Or was that not in this infrastructure? Is that not -- was that not part of that?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: That was not -- that was not part of the topic that was covered.
Q Maybe you can float about -- touch on what's next in the coming session.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, well I do have to leave shortly because I'm going to the Digital Economy session where issues like AI will be covered.
Tomorrow there is a session where issues related to Women's Economic Empowerment and Workforce Development will be highlighted, as well energy and the environment.
Q Great. Thank you.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks a lot.
END 2:22 P.M. JST
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