The United States will chair additional Group of 20 (G20) consultations in the coming weeks regarding the impact of the Middle East conflict on global food and fertilizer supplies, continuing its efforts to promote coordinated international action. As the current G20 president, the U.S. will make this commitment in a chair's statement related to the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors held on April 16 during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings.

Media viewed a copy of the statement ahead of its official release late Monday. The statement indicated that G20 financial officials discussed a range of issues, including the economic repercussions of the war and its specific effects on agricultural markets, supply chains, and fertilizers. However, the statement did not announce an agreement on coordinated action to secure fertilizer supplies amid war-related disruptions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Beasant launched an initiative last week, urging G20 members, the IMF, and the World Bank to collaborate and ensure countries have access to much-needed fertilizer. According to two senior officials familiar with the matter, a majority of G20 members support this U.S.-led initiative, though a small number of countries were unable to commit to action by the end of the weekend. Officials stated that working-level discussions will continue to develop an "actionable consensus."