US Treasury Secretary Skips South Africa G20, Attends Osaka Expo

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will skip the upcoming G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in South Africa, marking his second absence from a G20 gathering there this year. Instead, Bessent will attend the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, representing the U.S. on its national day amid escalating trade tensions, including President Trump's recent tariff increases on Japanese imports. Michael Kaplan, acting undersecretary for international affairs, will attend the G20 meeting in Bessent's place. This decision follows previous high-level absences from G20 events in South Africa amid strained U.S.-South Africa relations, intensified by Trump's imposition of a 30% tariff on South African imports and controversial allegations against the South African government. The U.S. is set to lead the G20 in 2026, but current diplomatic frictions, including missed G20 meetings by other key countries and officials, highlight ongoing geopolitical challenges. It remains unclear if Bessent will engage in bilateral talks during his visit to Japan.