US to host further G20 talks on war's impact on food and fertilizer: Report

The US will host further talks in coming weeks for the Group of 20 major economies on the impact of the war in the Middle East on food and fertilizer, as it continues to push for coordinated action.

This stance is expected to be reflected in a statement to be issued later today, following a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors held on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on April 16.

According to a draft of the statement seen by Reuters, officials discussed the economic fallout of the trade war, including its impact on agricultural markets, supply chains, and fertilizers, but failed to reach a clear agreement on a collective mechanism to ensure supplies.

This comes after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called last week for coordinated efforts within the G20, in cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank, to ensure countries have access to essential fertilizers.

Informed sources told Reuters that the majority of G20 countries supported the US initiative, while some countries had not confirmed their participation in the coordinated action as of the end of last week, as technical consultations continued to reach a practical consensus.