TRADE tensions within the Group of 20 (G20) leading industrialized and emerging economies could only be solved by the countries directly involved, the chairman of a meeting of finance leaders from the G20 said after a gathering in Bali on Friday.

Taking place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings on the Indonesian island, the G20 meeting provided little more than a forum for member countries to put their viewpoint on a tariff war between the United States and China, the world’s two biggest economies.

“We recognize we are now facing trade tensions among members of the G20,” Argentine Treasury Minister Nicolas Dujovne, chairman of this year’s G20 finance leaders’ meeting, told a news briefing, without directly mentioning either the United States or China.

“The G20 can play a role in providing the platform for discussions. But the differences that still persist should be resolved by the members that are directly involved in the tensions.”

Dujovne said that while global growth projections remain steady, the expansion has become less even across economies as downside risks materialized.

“On trade tensions, we agree that international trade is an important engine of growth, and that we need to resolve tensions which can negatively affect market sentiment and increase financial volatility,” he said.

Dujovne sidestepped a question on how Japan ought to deal with trade frictions when it chairs the G20 meetings next year, saying only that “Japan will be the one deciding on the priorities.”

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters that Tokyo hopes to discuss ways to fix global imbalances at next year’s G20 gatherings.

The G20 finance leaders did not produce a joint communique after their two-day meeting ended Friday. (SD-Agencies)