Alan Wheatley

If trade is the mortar holding together the Brics — Brazil, Russia, India, China and newcomer SA — the omens would appear poor for the grouping.

China has overtaken Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy, the fruit of three decades of rapid growth.

Disagreements over how quickly to reduce billowing budget deficits and restore balance to the global economy risk straining high-level G20 talks.