Trade tensions between the United States and China, which threaten to spill over into the global economy, have dominated the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund.
Official after official has called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue rather than unilateral tariffs, and warned about the threat to the economic recovery.
French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire criticized what he called a "vain and pointless" spat with China.
"We run the risk of trade war. We run the risk of multilateral order breaking down that is good for no one, and most definitely not for the world economy and growth," Le Maire told reporters during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund.
But US President Donald Trump's top finance official said the fault lies with countries that employ unfair trade policies.
"We strongly believe that unfair global trade practices impede stronger US and global growth, acting as a persistent drag on the global economy," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement to the IMF.
Mnuchin said on Friday that the IMF needed to “step up to the plate” to police large external imbalances, demand the dismantling of trade barriers and protection of intellectual property rights.
In a statement to the IMF’s steering committee, which meets on Saturday, Mnuchin said countries which have large and persistent external surpluses must do more to carry their share of the adjustment.
“The IMF must step up to the plate on this issue, providing a more robust voice and consistently noting when members maintain macroeconomic, foreign exchange, and trade policies that facilitate unfair competitive advantage or lead to imbalanced growth,” Mnuchin said.
The statement reflects the Trump administration’s view that the IMF, through its country surveillance and policy advocacy efforts, can help rein in what are seen as China’s trade abuses.
Mnuchin said the Trump administration welcomes the IMF’s efforts to improve the External Sector Report, the IMF’s assessment of currency valuations.
“At the same time, we urge the IMF to speak out more forcefully on the issue of external imbalances, including by providing clear policy recommendations for countries with large surpluses, in support of more balanced global growth,” Mnuchin added.
“Ensuring that trade is free, fair, and reciprocal will boost global trade and support stronger, more sustainable growth,” he explained.
While IMF chief Christine Lagarde has offered the fund as a forum to resolve differences, Mnuchin instead said the IMF "should be a strong voice" in urging members "to dismantle trade and non-tariff barriers and to protect intellectual property rights."
Le Maire agreed China must respect the rules, but said the country is a key part of the world trading system.
"We must redefine international trade with China, not against China."
- Serious consequences -
Theft of American intellectual property and technology has been a key irritant in the dispute with Beijing, which prompted President Donald Trump to announce steep tariffs on tens of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods, on top of last month's punitive duties on steel that were primarily targeted at China as well.
Washington and Beijing have traded tariff threats and also filed complaints against each other at the World Trade Organization.
WTO Director Roberto Azevedo warned that the effects of a major escalation "could be serious," and poor countries would be the collateral damage.
"A breakdown in trade relations among major players could derail the recovery that we have seen in recent years, threatening the ongoing economic expansion and putting many jobs at risk," he said in a statement to the meetings.
The IMF has highlighted the trade tensions as a major downside risk to the otherwise solid global recovery, and Lagarde said the dispute undermines confidence and creates uncertainty that could choke off investment which has been a prime engine of the global recovery.
The WTO projects global merchandise trade will expand by 4.4 percent this year, after increasing by 4.7 percent in 2017.
- G20 avoids trade issue -
Despite the intense focus on the US-China dispute, the Group of 20 finance ministers, from the world's major economies, avoided discussion of the issue Friday, even while acknowledging the potential danger it posed to the global economy.
"We didn't have a discussion on specific measures on trade," Argentine Treasury Minister Nicolas Dujovne told reporters after the meeting. "The G20 is not the place to discuss specific measures. That's the WTO."
It was a surprising omission for the group that was key to shepherding the global economy through the 2008 financial crisis and preventing another depression.
But Dujovne said, "We have to also recognize the limitations that we as a group have... and try to find a consensus even if the consensus is more limited than we want."
The ministers did express concern over the growth of "inward-looking policies," he said, using a frequent euphemism for trade protectionism.
But German central bank chief Jens Weidmann said the G20 officials all agreed trade must benefit all countries.
"Protectionism, not to mention a trade war, is certainly not the solution."
Le Maire repeated his criticism of the US tariffs on steel and aluminum which were aimed at China but only spared the EU and other key trading partners under a temporary exemption that is due to expire May 1.
As close allies in the EU "we expect not only temporary exemption but a full and permanent exemption," he said.
"We cannot live with a kind of sword of Damocles hanging over our heads."
- Treasury chief to China -
As trade tensions simmer between the world’s two largest economies, Mnuchin said on Saturday he may travel to China.
Mnuchin told reporters he was continuing to have discussions with his Chinese counterparts to try to resolve the differences over trade, but said he may go to Beijing.
“A trip is under consideration,” Mnuchin said at a news conference during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.
“I am not going to make any comment on timing, nor do I have anything confirmed, but a trip is under consideration.”
Mnuchin also declined to say what he wants from a trade deal with China, adding, “If we have a deal, you’ll know what it looks like when we have it.”
Mnuchin said he met China’s new central bank governor, Yi Gang, during the IMF and World Bank meetings and discussed the potential for China to open its markets to more foreign competition.
“I did meet with the Chinese here. The discussions were really more around the governor’s actions at the PBOC (People’s Bank of China) and certain actions they’ve announced in terms of opening some of their markets, which we very much encourage and appreciate.”
In a statement on Saturday to the International Monetary and Financial Committee, Yi said China would “vigorously” push forward the reform and opening of its financial sector, significantly relax market access restrictions, create a more attractive investment environment, strengthen the protection of intellectual properties and actively expand imports.
On Sunday, China’s commerce ministry said it would welcome US officials to discuss trade and economic issues.
“The Chinese side has received information that the US side hopes to come to Beijing to discuss economic and trade issues. China welcomes this,” the ministry said in a statement on its website.
