The 19 states (plus the EU) that make up the G20 are responsible for around 90 per cent of global GDP. A leaked Foreign Office paper revealed that the UK had arranged the countries into “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” based on their importance.
US: Determined to secure agreement on new spending plans to support Obama's $787bn stimulus package but preparations have been hampered by an understaffed Treasury.
UK: Gordon Brown aims to forge a new global settlement on regulation while also agreeing on the stimulus packages he believes are necessary to kickstart the economy not to mention Labour's poll ratings.
France: Highly critical of US calls for further spending, the born again statist Sarkozy hopes to focus on financial regulation.
Germany: Opposed to new co-ordinated tax cuts and public spending increases. Merkel aims to agree a crackdown on tax havens.
Italy: Silvio Berlusconi has dismissed the G20 as “just a round-table” - but as Italy is the current holder of the G8 presidency it may be he is concerned this summit will undermine his position.
China: Prepared to increase its contributions to the proposed $500 billion IMF fund in return for greater voting powers.
India: Plans to offer greater financial assistance in return for assurances over free trade.
South Africa: The only African member aims to protect the trading position of developing states by preventing a return to protectionism.
Japan: Like the US, Japan believes immediate stimulus programmes must be prioritised over financial regulation.
Brazil: Growing in influence with each summit, President Lula's priorities are combating protectionism and boosting his country's influence at the IMF.
South Korea: Next year's G20 chair is promoting a moratorium on protectionist policies to support Asia's export based economies.
Saudi Arabia: The sole Opec member aims to alleviate concerns over oil price stability.
Australia: Disgruntled after being relegated to the “second tier” but PM Kevin Rudd will outline his seven-point reform plan.
Canada: Supportive of UK/US calls for new stimulus packages but emphasises that both must further stabilise their banking systems.
Russia: Also angered by its place in the “second division” and is now less likely to bow to demands to cut its high interest rates.
Indonesia: Wary of the Franco-German push for greater financial regulation and supports aggressive fiscal action.
Mexico: President Calderón's priority is drastic reform of the IMF and the World Bank, whose response to the crisis he described as “totally inadequate”.
Turkey: Sympathetic to calls for additional spending and an important bridge between the EU and the Middle East.
Argentina: A country whose own economic problems predate the current crisis, Argentina shares Brazil's concerns around protectionism.
EU: President Barroso believes existing rescue packages are sufficient and wants a greater commitment to financial regulation.
