Ambassador Greer's Opening Remarks at the G20 Trade Ministerial

As Prepared for Delivery on September 30, 2026 Good afternoon ministers and delegates. I would like to officially welcome you to Milwaukee for the G20 Trade Ministerial meeting. Milwaukee is the “Machine Shop of the World,” a center for innovation and services, and is located within a key agricultural state. The city is emblematic of the type of economy the United States wants to encourage—one oriented towards production, and all that comes with it. It is special that we are able to convene in the Pfister Hotel. First opened in 1893, the Pfister was at the cutting edge of engineering and design, with a fireproof construction, self-produced electricity, and even individual thermostats in every room. Over its 130-year life, the Pfister has borne witness to its share of historical events and important gatherings. In November 1959, John F. Kennedy—then a young senator embarking on his presidential campaign—gave a major policy address in this very ballroom. Kennedy decried the loss of American competitiveness: declining production of steel, machinery, tools, energy, and agricultural products. He reminded his listeners about the importance of technological innovation and industrial in...