Russia’s Reshetnikov says G20 made progress on WTO reform, trade
In short
Russia’s economic development minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, said the G20 made progress in discussing and understanding problems related to reform of the World Trade Organization and current trade, after a G20 gathering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He said breakthroughs are hard to expect in current geopolitical and economic conditions, and that G20 members hold very different views on modernizing the basic principles of the multilateral trading system. He also listed the “weaponization” of trade in food and the goods needed to produce it as a WTO reform topic.
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Russia’s minister of economic development, Maxim Reshetnikov, said the G20 made progress in discussing and, above all, understanding several important problems, including reform of the World Trade Organization and current trade. He gave the assessment to the state news agency TASS after a G20 gathering in Wisconsin, and RBC reported it on the morning of 5 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
“In the current difficult geopolitical and economic conditions, it is hard to expect any breakthroughs from any dialogue,” Reshetnikov told TASS, according to Kommersant. “Nevertheless, the ‘twenty’ advanced in the discussion and, most importantly, in the understanding of some important problems, including those related to WTO reform and current trade.” [ 4 ]
Among the WTO reform topics, the minister named the “weaponization” of trade in food and in the goods needed to produce it, and the modernization of the basic principles of the multilateral trading system. On the latter, he said G20 member states hold “very different views,” a point TASS carried in a separate report. [ 3 , 4 ]
Kommersant reported that the Milwaukee meeting took place on 30 September and was devoted to international economic development and trade, and that the group’s final event will be a summit in Miami, Florida, on 14-15 September. The outlets describe the Milwaukee gathering differently: RBC calls it a summit, TASS a meeting in Wisconsin, and Kommersant uses both terms. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Kommersant described the practical problem in food trade as a conflict between support for domestic markets and the predictability of global supplies. It recalled that in March 2024 it was reported that India’s purchases of agricultural products into state reserves support farmers while reducing supply possibilities to other countries, and that in 2022 export restrictions on wheat introduced by 22 countries accounting for 21% of world grain trade accelerated a 9% rise in its price. The WTO then called on G20 countries to restrain such measures because of their effect on the humanitarian food crisis. [ 4 ]
The reform touches the basic rules of the WTO: the principle of non-discrimination, the most-favoured-nation regime and equal treatment of imported goods and services, Kommersant said, adding that their application is limited. The available text does not give further detail, and the documents do not say what decisions, if any, the G20 reached. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
Reshetnikov’s remarks, carried by Russia’s state news agency and by business outlets, indicate the talks produced no announced decisions but moved positions closer on WTO reform, which shapes rules for food and goods trade. Kommersant’s background notes that past wheat export restrictions raised prices and drew WTO calls for restraint, pointing to the practical stakes for food supply. The documents give no detail on what, if anything, G20 members agreed.
Key facts
- Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said the G20 advanced in discussing and understanding problems related to WTO reform and current trade. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Reshetnikov spoke to TASS after the G20 gathering in Wisconsin. [ 4 , 5 ]
- He said it is hard to expect breakthroughs from any dialogue given the current geopolitical and economic conditions. [ 4 ]
- He named the “weaponization” of trade in food and in goods needed to produce it as one WTO reform topic. [ 4 ]
- He said G20 members hold “very different views” on modernizing the basic principles of the multilateral trading system. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Kommersant reported the Milwaukee meeting took place on 30 September and was devoted to international economic development and trade. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant reported the group’s final event will be a summit in Miami, Florida, on 14-15 September. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Maxim Reshetnikov said the G20 made progress in understanding problems related to WTO reform and current trade. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Reshetnikov gave his assessment to TASS after the G20 gathering in Wisconsin. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Reshetnikov said G20 members hold very different views on the direction of modernizing trade principles. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Milwaukee gathering was a summit or a meeting Outlets describe it differently: RBC refers to a summit, TASS to a meeting (“совещание”) in Wisconsin, and Kommersant uses both “summit” and “meeting”; the documents do not reconcile this.
- The date of the final G20 summit in Miami Kommersant gives 14-15 September, which is earlier than the 5 October publication date of the reports; the documents do not explain the discrepancy.
- What specific WTO reform steps, if any, G20 members agreed on The documents report only progress in discussion and understanding and list no decisions.
- Which G20 countries hold which positions on modernizing the multilateral trading system The documents state only that views are very different, without attributing positions to named countries.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports Reshetnikov saying the G20 advanced in understanding problems linked to WTO reform and trade. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports his post-meeting statement on progress on “important problems”, primarily WTO reform. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports Reshetnikov saying G20 views on the directions of modernizing trade principles are very different. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant publishes his quotes to TASS, including the Milwaukee meeting held on 30 September. [ 4 ]
- TASS publishes its interview with Reshetnikov on the results of the Wisconsin meeting. [ 5 ]