http://weeklyintercept.blogspot.com/2011/04/world-finance-chiefs-chastise-us-on.html
Intercept
While most of the criticism came from emerging market economies, some advanced nations joined the chorus.
Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager warned that if the United States and other advanced nations move too slowly it could undermine confidence in the global economy.
"Insufficient budgetary consolidation may spark off further escalation of debt sustainability issues, with repercussions on confidence and the still fragile financial sector," de Jager told the International Monetary Fund's steering committee.
"Debt dynamics in other advanced economies, including the United States, are of concern."
The IMF this week said the U.S. budget deficit was on course to hit 10.8 percent of nation's economic output this year, tying with Ireland for the highest deficit-to-GDP ratio among advanced economies. It urged Washington to move quickly to put a credible plan in place to tighten its belt.
Brazil's finance minister, Guido Mantega, offered sharp words in a thinly veiled attack on the United States. "Ironically, some of the countries that are responsible for the deepest crisis since the Great Depression, and have yet to solve their own problems, are eager to prescribe codes of conduct to the rest of the world," he said.
The Group of 20 countries agreed on Friday to a plan that could put more pressure on the United States to fix its deficits as well as push other leading economies to address their own shortcomings.
The IMF's advisory panel on Saturday said issues of financial stability and sovereign debt stability must be addressed, saying in a communique that "credible actions are needed to accelerate progress." It emphasized the need for fiscal consolidation in advanced economies while avoiding overheating in emerging economies.
The Obama administration and the U.S. Congress are locked in battle over how best to fix the deficit. Republicans are pushing for deep spending cuts as part of the argument over raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit, something which is needed to avoid an unprecedented U.S. debt default.
The Republican-led House of Representatives on Friday approved a plan to slash spending by nearly $6 trillion over a decade and cut benefits for the elderly and poor.
President Barack Obama, who has offered a competing vision to curb deficits by $4 trillion over 12 years, said on Thursday the Republican plan would create "a nation of potholes."
The White House is wary about cutting spending sharply while the economic recovery remains fragile.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told fellow finance ministers on Saturday caution was needed.
"We are committed to fiscal reforms that will restrain spending and reduce deficits while not threatening the economic recovery," he said.
Geithner was quick to say others whose policies contribute to global imbalances must change too, "especially those whose fundamentals call for greater exchange rate flexibility..."
The United States has repeatedly called for China to relax its limits on the yuan currency.
Yi Gang, a deputy governor of China's central bank, called for "more rigorous" efforts by advanced economies to tighten budgets and said the IMF needs to strengthen its monitoring of these rich nations.
Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, taking aim at the U.S. Federal Reserve, said central banks that buy government debt to keep interest rates low were abetting fiscal profligacy.
The Fed is on course to complete the purchase of $600 billion in U.S. government debt by the end of June, which would take its total purchases of mortgage-related and government debt since December 2008 to nearly $2.3 trillion.
Echoing Republican lawmakers and even some Fed officials, Kudrin said those purchases blurred the line between monetary and fiscal policy in a way that could jeopardize a central bank's independence.
"We observe this process with some wonderment, since it amounts to the monetization of those countries' budget deficits," Kudrin said.
Comment
"Destroying the New World Order"
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
Charlie Kirk: Grief And Outrage From Turning Point USA in Phoenix
We went to Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix to talk with people who were there to pay their respects.►Join my community to get exclus...
"cheeki kea, Yes that was released on to book sites 19 hours before the tragic event and also there…"
Charlie Kirk Was Terrified Of Israel
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
"The internet is fractioned that's for sure but it never sleeps and the big question of the day…"
"It seems America has many meanings to many people. The internet has fractioned everybody. I had…"
"Cheeki kea I'm glad that the giant Moa downsized to this turkey looking land walker.!"
"I don't know what difference if any that he was also a member of Council for National Policy.…"
"I remember when they found out that the united Council of Churches worldwide had been funding…"
A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
Political violence and death has been perpetrated for a long time now in America. The Democrats…See More
Charlie Kirk Assaination
September 10th 2025 in Utah Turning Point USA CEO has been assassinated. Coincidentally, answering…See More
Bow to Your New Masters
Dr. Jerome Corsi reports that the discovery of a new wireless system that can corrupt any…See More
"Wow I never knew penguins got down sized also over time. I knew of the Moa which is really now a…"
Civalyze meme
meme ad for a fake drug that would do away with black fatiguecivilyze you're not racist your just exhausted
Is the Timing of Alex Jones and Charlie Sheen Connected?
Alex Jones is sperging out.Charlie Sheen is coming out of the closet.Is this why Alex Jones is…See More
Buying the Last haunted House on the Left (A partial autobiography)
Note to the reader, there are events here that are true and some that are fictional.Chapter IIt was…See More
© 2025 Created by truth.
Powered by
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network