Trump administration officials and Business Roundtable CEOs at a G20 business forum.
The Trump administration is changing how corporate voices are heard at the G20, tapping the Business Roundtable (BRT) to lead engagement during the U.S.’s host year. This move sidelines the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s traditional role via the Business 20 (B20) framework.
Administration officials say the decision aims to streamline business participation, aligning it with the administration’s economic priorities like deregulation and energy expansion. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated that the BRT, composed of leading U.S. CEOs, will be central to advancing a pro-growth agenda during the G20 cycle.
Under the new structure, the Business Roundtable will host a CEO-focused event at Trump National Doral on December 12, preceding the G20 Leaders’ Summit on December 14 and 15. The gathering expects over 120 BRT member CEOs, along with at least one chief executive from each G20 economy and invited guest nations. Discussions will focus on growth through deregulation, energy dominance, and innovation.
Additional business engagement events are planned throughout the year, including sessions tied to Business Roundtable board meetings in Washington, D.C., as well as programming alongside the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Chamber officials acknowledge the changes. Jessica Boulanger, the chamber’s senior vice president and head of communications and public affairs, said the organization is working to host a “B20 unlike any other” focused on a ‘back to basics’ agenda consistent with the Trump administration’s vision.
A source familiar with the plans for the B20 told FOX Business that Ross Perot Jr. will be the chairman of this year’s conference. The move reflects a broader shift in how business voices are included in global economic discussions during the U.S. host year, giving top CEOs a more direct role and aligning their input more closely with the administration’s priorities.
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