Donald Trump is 'blocking' a G20 agreement because it has a line about climate change

Donald Trump's team of US negotiators are holding up a communique from the G20 summit because of a disagreement about climate change, an EU official has claimed.

کد خبر: ۷۱۰۳۷۹

تاریخ: ۱۷ تير ۱۳۹۶ - ۱۵:۱۱

Negotiators from the Group of 20 economies have agreed the outlines of the document from their summit in the German city of Hamburg, but it being held up because of the US's insistence that there be a reference to fossil fuels.

"The outcome is good. We have a communique," one EU official said. "There is just one outstanding issue on climate."

He said the G20 statement included a commitment to "fight protectionism".

Today's agenda features discussions on partnerships between the G-20 and Africa, on migration and health. There is also a discussion on digitalisation, empowering women and unemployment.

A key focus is on what formulations the G-20 leaders find to set out their positions on global trade and climate change.

The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said after the first day of meetings that discussions on trade were very difficult and that differences on climate change were clear.

Finding compromises is challenging at a time when President Donald Trump's Trump's "America First" rhetoric and decision last month to withdraw from the Paris accord against climate change have caused widespread concern.

Germany has been keen to preserve the G-20's tradition of making decisions by consensus.

The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

Also attending are the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Guinea, Senegal, Singapore and Vietnam.

Saturday's sessions come after a second night of trouble elsewhere in Hamburg, as rioters set up street barricades, looting supermarkets and attacking police with slingshots and firebombs. Hundreds of officers went into buildings in the Schanzenviertel neighborhood to arrest troublemakers.