Brainard Says International Institutions Help U.S. Agenda
Lael Brainard, the U.S. Treasury’s undersecretary for international affairs, said international institutions are central to American efforts overseas.
“The multilateral institutions are vital supporters of our international agenda,” Brainard said in prepared remarks for a speech to the annual meeting of the Bretton Woods Committee.
Her comments come as the International Monetary Fund searches for new leadership after the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who has been charged with sexual assault. Brainard echoed statements earlier today from Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, calling for the IMF to move quickly and praising John Lipsky, the fund’s No. 2 official, who is now the temporary leader.
Brainard said the U.S. believes the IMF will be able to move quickly to select a successor through an open process. She also said the IMF is playing a “critical role” in the world and that the U.S. wants the fund to be as strong as it can be.
“We haven’t taken a position on any particular candidate,” she said, in response to a question at the event.
Brainard said the U.S. needs to take steps to strengthen its domestic economy and public finances, along with its efforts to influence developments overseas.
“Providing leadership to advance our values and our goals is more important than ever,” Brainard said. “It is important that the United States lead from a position of strength.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Rebecca Christie in Washington at Rchristie4@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz at cwellisz@bloomberg.net
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