German finance minister and US treasury secretary Bessent met bilaterally, source says
BANFF, Canada May 21 (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil met United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday for a bilateral conversation on the sidelines of the G7 finance ministers' consultations in Canada, a German source in G7 circles told Reuters.
Both agreed to meet again in Washington, with Bessent inviting Klingbeil.
The conversation was a private, open, and constructive exchange and lasted longer than planned, the source told Reuters.
Klingbeil emphasized the importance of close transatlantic relations, especially in light of current geopolitical and economic challenges, the German source said.
Ongoing trade disputes with the U.S. should be resolved as quickly as possible for the benefit of all, Klingbeil said on Tuesday, ahead of meeting his counterparts from other Group of Seven countries.
In his conversation with his U.S. counterpart, Klingbeil also emphasized that the G7 must remain steadfastly on the side of Ukraine.
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