Sir — This refers to the editorial, “leading Hamburg summit” (July 10). Major G20 economies across the world failed, for the first time, to have a full consensus on their joint statement. It was a gathering of the 20 most powerful states in the world, each with its own interests that do not necessarily mesh with other states at the table. It may be argued that this is a pointless exercise and a profligate waste of money as so little has been achieved. If there is a single takeaway, it is that the US is not the power it was.