WASHINGTON (AP) — Global finance officials on Friday defended their efforts to promote free trade and closer international links against a rising ride of populism around the world and criticism from a Trump administration intent on pursuing its "America First" agenda.

Finance ministers from the world's major economies wrapped up two days of talks with German Finance Minister Wolfang Schaeuble saying that the G-20's efforts represented a solid response to unhappiness over globalization.

Schaeuble said a year ago people were talking about the "swan song of multilateral cooperation" but now with...