Finance ministers urged less trade protectionism.

The ministers of 22 leading industrial and developing nations, sitting as the World Bank’s Development Assistance Committee, ended three days of meetings in Washington by calling for “urgent action” to reduce protectionism but declined to endorse a U.S. proposal for a new round of trade talks early next year. However, the International Monetary Fund’s Interim Committee agreed to review studies on the international monetary system in October. The statement strongly favored an increased role by both organizations in helping the 145 member-countries achieve economic growth through internal reforms and international cooperation.