The conference, held from 19 – 20 June 2025, aimed to review the progress emerging from the compiled policy briefs and engagements and to refine policy outputs ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Dr. Axel Berger, ©IDOS
Hosted by T20 South Africa, the T20 Midterm Conference convened T20 taskforces, Advisory Council members and experts drawn from the G20 member countries. Dr Axel Berger represented IDOS at the Conference and, as Co-Chair of the taskforce on Trade and Investment, moderated the corresponding panel. The panel brought together Ms Trudi Hartzenberg, Trade Law Center (TRALAC), South Africa, Dr Renato Baumann, Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), Brazil, Mr Pradeep Mehta, Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS), India, and Rose Ngugi, Chair of Southern Voice. They discussed multilateral solutions for the current tensions in international trade and rising protectionism, and reflected on the ripple effects of development-oriented investment and the restructuring of global value chains.
The conference also included exchange with Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, G20 Sous Sherpa, in preparation of the G20 Conference scheduled for 22-23 November 2025. As T20 South Africa seeks to “consolidate and sustain” the work of the T20 under four succeeding Southern presidencies of the G20 ahead of hand-over to the US, the T20 Midterm Conference proved to be a very important opportunity for joint reflection and consolidation of messages.
