High tension G20 opens

G20 powers geared for summit talks yesterday in a deserted Argentine capital, after an incident-packed buildup dominated by controversies pitting US President Donald Trump against Russia and his combative stance on trade and climate change. With Buenos Aires on security lockdown, Trump along with the Russian and Chinese presidents were among the world leaders gathered against a backdrop of tensions surrounding also the Ukraine conflict and relations with Saudi Arabia.

On the G20 margins, Trump scored one victory for his “America First” agenda with the signing of a successor to the North American free trade pact NAFTA, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Although the new pact inherits key features from the old one, Trump has declared it a victory for the US workers he claims were cheated by NAFTA and on Friday called it the most “modern and balanced agreement in history.”

“This is a model agreement that changes the trade landscape forever,” Trump said at the sign ing ceremony in Buenos Aires. The landscape was more rocky on the Russia front. Trump abruptly cancelled a planned meeting with President Vladimir Putin, citing Russia’s recent seizure of three Ukrainian ships, but remains billed to dine with President Xi Jinping on Saturday after igniting a trade war with China. Putin jetted into Buenos Aires Friday morning, and the Kremlin said it “regrets” Trump’s decision to scrap the meeting.

Amid the Ukraine crisis, European Union president Donald Tusk said he was “sure” that the EU would roll over its sanctions on Russia next month. And on the G20 front, he admitted the world was undergoing a “difficult moment” overall. Protesters have vowed a mass rally as Argentina endures a crippling economic crisis, underlining security concerns after recent football violence forced the relocation of a showpiece final to Spain.

Trump has cast his talks Saturday with Xi as a deadline for China to cave on his key trade concerns, including access for US companies and protection of their intellectual property. G20 sources said climate change was emerging as the biggest stumbling block on the agreement of a joint communique when the summit concludes on Saturday.