Canada and the G20

The Group of Twenty (G20) is a critical forum for the world's major economies to build mutual understanding and foster collaboration in the face of global challenges.

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Overview

The G20 is the primary forum for international economic cooperation among the world’s leading developed and emerging economies.

The G20 was formed in 1999 amidst the Asian financial crisis to coordinate macroeconomic policy and financial responses among members. In 2008, the G20 Summit was elevated to the leaders’ level in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, G20 leaders have met yearly to discuss pressing global issues, supported by ministerial workstreams that address topics including finance, trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, and climate change issues, among others

Membership

The G20 comprises nineteen countries and two regional unions. The African Union became the G20’s 21st member in 2023. The G20 represents all inhabited continents, 79.3% of the world's population, over 89.0% of world GDP and over 79.0% of global trade. The 21 members are:

• African Union
• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• China
• European Union
• Germany
• France
• India
• Indonesia
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Türkiye
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

The G20 presidency rotates annually among members. South Africa hosts the G20 in 2025, followed by the United States in 2026.

Canada last hosted the G20 in 2010, in Toronto.

Our participation

The G20 is an important platform for Canada to influence global economic issues. Canada’s participation provides an opportunity to build consensus with members on matters related to economic stability and growth in Canada and globally. This includes promoting sustainable growth through support for the international financial architecture and open, rules-based trade and investment.

At the G20, Canada continues to:

• Promote global economic and financial stability.
• Work with G20 partners to diversity trade and investment opportunities for Canadians.

G20 members represent some of Canada’s most significant trade and economic relationships:

• In 2024, bilateral merchandise traded between Canada and G20 members totaled $1.4 trillion.
• Since 2015, Canada’s bilateral merchandise trade with G20 countries has increased by 44.9%.
• Over 90.0% of Canada’s bilateral merchandise trade comes from the G20 countries.
• In 2024, foreign direct investment from G20 economies in Canada was nearly $1.3 trillion, an increase of 36.1% over the previous 5 years.
• Nine of Canada's top ten trading partners are among G20 countries.
• Nine out of the top 10 international markets for Indigenous SME exports are G20 countries.

Work process

The G20 has no charter or permanent secretariat. The presidency of the G20 rotates every year among its members. The presidency is responsible for setting the group’s agenda, preparing leaders’ summits, and organizing preparatory meetings that advance G20 work throughout the year. Ministerial meetings, working groups, and other experts’ groups are added or removed by the presidency based on the host’s priorities.

G20 work is supported by the participation of guest countries and international organizations that are invited at the host’s discretion, as well as engagement groups comprising different sectors of civil society, academia, and industry.

Much of the preparation for the summit is completed by G20 leaders’ personal representatives, known as sherpas. Sherpas work closely with finance ministers’ deputies to steer the G20 agenda, with input from ministerial workstreams over the course of the year. Since 2024, Canada’s Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for the G20 Summit (sherpa) has been Cindy Termorshuizen.

The work of the G20 culminates each cycle in a summit and leaders’ declaration, expressing members’ commitments and vision for the future.

Engagement groups

G20 members have made a commitment to consult relevant stakeholder communities. G20 thematic engagement groups, comprising participants from among G20 members, provide a vehicle for such dialogue. These groups meet throughout the year and often draft recommendations for G20 members. While these recommendations are non-binding, G20 members take them into account in the policy-making process.

There are currently thirteen engagement groups. Each engagement group is chaired by organizations or individuals from the G20 host country:

• Business 20 (B20)
• Civil 20 (C20)
• Labour 20 (L20)
• Oceans 20 (O20)
• Parliament 20 (P20)
• Science 20 (S20)
• Supreme Audit Institutions 20 (SAI 20)
• Supreme Courts and Constitutional Courts 20 (J20)
• Startup 20
• Think 20 (T20)
• Urban 20 (U20)
• Women 20 (W20)
• Youth 20 (Y20)

Declarations and statements

Latest declarations, statements and announcements endorsed by the Prime Minister or Global Affairs Canada Ministers are included below.