At the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Asheville on Aug. 31–Sep. 1, PBOC'S PAN warned trade friction and rising protectionism are weighing on the global economy by disrupting supply chains, lifting inflation and unsettled

2026-09-02

At the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Asheville on Aug. 31–Sep. 1, PBOC'S PAN warned trade friction and rising protectionism are weighing on the global economy by disrupting supply chains, lifting inflation and unsettled market expectations. He urged defenders of multilateralism to use the G20 platform to strengthen macro policy coordination and jointly address global risks. On sovereign debt, Pan said resolution should adhere to “collective action, fair burden‑sharing” and called on the G20 to lead enforcement of “comparable treatment” under a common framework. He reiterated that economic growth is the essential route to restoring debt sustainability in developing countries. Pan blamed rising protectionism, expanded national security and policy concerns unpredictability for worsening global imbalances, and urged structural reforms: deficit countries should cut fiscal deficits and raise national savings, surplus countries should modestly boost consumption and investment, and all countries should set and stick to medium‑to‑long‑term policy commitments to avoid policy reversals.