US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to hold a series of bilateral meetings with his G20 counterparts at the finance ministers' gathering in Asheville, North Carolina, with restoring global economic growth as the centrepiece of Washington's agenda, a senior White House official said on 31 August. The United States is pressing G20 members to prioritise wages and living standards above other policy objectives.

Growth as the Central Agenda

White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai told reporters on the sidelines of the Asheville meeting that the overriding theme of the gathering would be 'restoring economic growth as the north star of the G20.' He said Bessent's discussions would examine what major economies could do to 'turbocharge global economic growth' and lift wages and living standards worldwide.

'I think we'll see a continued broader global realignment on getting growth to be our number one priority,' Desai said, indicating Washington expects wider support for its agenda over the course of the meeting.

Trump's Domestic Policy as the Blueprint

Desai explicitly linked the US approach at the G20 to President Donald Trump's domestic economic programme, describing it as a model for faster expansion. He said Trump was seeking to accelerate growth in the United States 'by slashing regulations, cutting taxes and so on,' and that the administration hoped to see similar pro-growth orientations adopted more broadly.

The White House official drew a sharp contrast with the previous administration, saying the Biden-era approach had been defined by 'more ambiguous and big climate change goals' — a framing that signals Washington's intent to shift the G20's thematic priorities away from climate-centred multilateralism toward economic output and household income growth.

Geopolitical Backdrop: Iran and Energy

The Asheville meeting is taking place against a backdrop of elevated geopolitical tensions, with their potential spillover into energy markets and the broader global economy a live concern. Asked whether Iran and energy-related issues would feature in Bessent's bilateral conversations, Desai said he expected them to surface throughout the gathering.

'I imagine that's gonna be present in every conversation the secretary will be having with his counterparts throughout the next couple of days,' he said.

India-US Engagement in Focus

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is representing India at the meeting. Desai said he expected productive engagement between the two governments both during and beyond the Asheville gathering, pointing to India's status as a large and rapidly growing economy. He noted that India's expansion creates opportunities for American companies seeking new markets and business destinations.

'I think we'll see a lot of productive discussions between the US government and the Indian government,' Desai said. The remarks suggest Washington views New Delhi as a key partner in its push to reframe the G20's economic agenda around growth and living standards.

What to Watch

Whether the US succeeds in building consensus around a growth-first framework will depend on how other major economies — particularly those with strong climate commitments — respond to Washington's reorientation. Any joint communiqué language on growth versus climate will be closely watched as a signal of where the G20's collective priorities are heading.