20 economies. Two days. Two big US priorities.

The Trump administration is set to discuss two major priorities during the upcoming Group of 20 finance meeting: addressing global trade imbalances and reducing economic ties with Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will host finance ministers and central bank governors from the world's largest economies in Asheville, North Carolina over the next two days.

The administration aims to tackle global trade imbalances in order to benefit American workers and provide a level playing field for US companies. Additionally, they want economies to focus on productivity, innovation, and investment rather than policies that lead to excessive production and capacity in global markets.

The growth discussions will center on creating resilient supply chains for critical resources like energy, as well as addressing barriers to investment, innovation, and productivity while implementing regulatory reforms. Iran is another key issue on the agenda. Following Washington's warning that countries could face secondary US sanctions for maintaining business relationships with Iran, Bessent is expected to urge G20 counterparts to comply with the US sanctions campaign to maintain access to the dollar-based Western financial system.

The discussions are also expected to cover US debt and bond yields, with the goal of reducing elevated yields as inflation decreases. The Treasury is also seeking to lower borrowing costs through measures such as increasing buybacks of 10- to 30-year Treasuries. Ultimately, the G20 finance track is being used by Washington to push its priorities on global trade, growth, and debt while striving for broader international compliance with the Iran sanctions campaign.