G7 재무·중앙은행 총재 “중동 분쟁에 성장·물가 위험 고조” – YTN

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven (G7) have warned that economic uncertainty driven by conflicts in the Middle East has increased risks to global growth and inflation. In a joint statement released following a meeting in Paris, France, the officials emphasized the necessity of multilateral cooperation to counter these global economic threats.

The G7 officials specifically identified pressures on supply chains for energy, food and fertilizer as critical issues that disproportionately impact the most vulnerable nations. To prevent further strain on the global economy, the group urged all countries to avoid the imposition of arbitrary export restrictions.

A primary concern highlighted during the discussions was the status of the Strait of Hormuz. The G7 stated that the waterway, which is currently effectively blocked, must be reopened quickly to stabilize international trade and energy flows.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the proceedings as constructive discussions regarding several key strategic areas, including Iran, cybersecurity, critical minerals, and global economic imbalances.

Regarding global economic stability, the finance ministers and central bank governors reached a consensus on the responsibilities of nations facing persistent and large-scale external deficits. The group determined that such countries should implement policies aimed at strengthening fiscal soundness and increasing domestic savings.

To support these efforts, the G7 called for more rigorous oversight of external imbalances. This includes requests for the following actions:

• Strengthening the monitoring of external imbalances within the bilateral and multilateral surveillance frameworks of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• Urging the IMF and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to enhance their analysis of global external imbalances.

The meeting also focused on the security of essential resources. The G7 members agreed to deepen and expand their cooperation concerning the supply chains of critical minerals to ensure economic resilience.

The officials further reaffirmed their firm support for Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia for more than four years. As part of this commitment, the G7 promised to review additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy.

The group also addressed the status of Russian state funds. The joint statement confirmed that the freeze on Russian sovereign assets will remain in place until Russia ends the war and pays reparations.