G20 Finance Ministers Meet in Asheville on Growth, Trade

The Trump administration presented a pro-market agenda focused on deregulation, trade reform, and economic growth at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, which began on August 31, 2026. The gathering, hosted by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is taking place in a region still recovering from the 2024 hurricane season, with the summit concluding on Tuesday, September 1.

In opening remarks, Bessent framed American economic strength as essential for global stability, declaring an end to "secular stagnation" and outlining a four-part agenda. The administration's priorities include accelerating domestic growth through deregulation and energy expansion, challenging unfair trade practices with reciprocal tariffs, addressing geopolitical risks such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing a nuclear Iran, and easing financial regulations to boost community bank lending. "America First does not mean America alone," Bessent stated, emphasizing that stronger partnerships are built on a stronger America.

The meetings occur against a backdrop of heightened global tensions, including the economic fallout from the U.S.-Israeli...