South Africa, the current chair country of G20, warns of escalation of trade frictions There was no official communiqu issued after the meeting.

The Central Bank Governor of South Africa, the rotating chair of the G20, stated that the global trade tensions have become "so severe". "This situation of tit-for-tat means that we may actually not be talking to each other," South African Central Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago told reporters after the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Washington. "Even if a country extends an olive branch, we may not be able to see it, because the situation has become so tense."