G20 runs into turbulence as Trump stokes divisions on trade

Officials struggled to agree on a statement to bridge differences between US, other G-20 nations

Divisions between world leaders over the direction of global economic policy were blown open again on Friday as a Group of 20 summit quickly ran into headwinds over free trade.

Government officials in Hamburg are struggling to agree on a final statement that would bridge differences between the US and most of the other G-20 countries on trade, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. Work on language acceptable to all on climate was abandoned by the sherpas and left to leaders to hash out. On both issues, officials pointed the finger at US recalcitrance.

“The sherpas still have a big chunk of