*G-20 SEES TRADE WAR*

THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL leaders rejected protectionism on Tuesday and urged ''further dialogue'' on trade, but failed to-

Defuse the threat of a trade war days before US metals tariffs take effect and Washington is to announce measures against China.

Finance ministers and central bankers of the world's 20 largest and biggest economies, which represent 75 percent of world trade and 85 percent of global gross domestic product -

Discussed trade disruptions as a risk to growth at a two-day meeting.

But after talks described by participants as ''polite'' and mainly consisting of read-out statements with no debate, the G20 agreed only to stand by an -

Ambiguous declaration on trade from 2017 and ''recognize'' the need for more ''dialogue'' and  ''actions''.

''We reaffirm the conclusions of our leaders on trade at the Hamburg Summit and recognize the need for further dialogue and actions.

We are working to strengthen contribution of trade to our economies,'' the final G20 ministers statement said.

But the declaration did little to dispel concern over a global trade war as the United States tariffs of  25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminium tool effect on Friday.

Two officials briefed on the matter said US President Donald Trump would also unveil tariffs of up to $60 billion in Chinese technology and telecoms products, a move stemming from Beijing's  intellectual property practices.

The 2017 Hamburg declaration. which the financial leaders referred to on Tuesday, said G20 countries would ''continue to fight protectionism including all unfair trade practices.''

But it also said that G20 leaders ''recognize the role of legitimate trade defense instruments,'' an ambiguity that provides the United States with a way to argue its cause on the tariffs.

 [Agencies]