Analysis: Sarkozy to press currencies role for G20

[sunshinelvr]

Analysis: Sarkozy to press currencies role for G20

PARIS | Mon Sep 6, 2010 4:34am EDT

(Reuters) - President Nicolas Sarkozy has set an ambitious agenda of creating a new international monetary system and taming commodity speculation for France's presidency of the G20 global economic leadership forum from November.

At first sight, it is easy to dismiss such grand designs as a futile drive, in the Gaullist and dirigiste tradition, to curb the power of the dollar and shackle free markets.

But Sarkozy's agenda may appeal to the emerging economies of China, India, Brazil and Russia, irked by the dollar's hegemony, while offering sufficient incentive to draw in the United States and Britain, despite their belief in floating exchange rates.

It also has a domestic payoff for a president hoping to leverage his international statesmanship to revive his battered popularity, and neutralize a highly popular potential rival, ahead of a tough 2012 re-election campaign.

For Washington, discussing currencies in the wider forum of the G20 rather than the inner sanctum of the Group of Seven industrialized economies -- the United States, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada -- may offer the advantage of engaging trade powerhouse China in exchange rate cooperation.

The United States believes the yuan is undervalued, giving China an undue advantage in exporting to the West.

Beijing has rejected any international discussion of its foreign exchange policy to date. It even blocked an attempt by G20 leaders in June to praise in their communique its decision to allow greater flexibility in the yuan's exchange rate.

In an August 25 speech airing his ideas, Sarkozy suggested that the proposed discussion of a new global monetary order might start with a seminar of experts in China.

Diplomats expect this to feature prominently when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Paris later this month.

"What is desirable and indeed necessary today is to put in place instruments to avoid excessive currency volatility, the accumulation of imbalances and the quest for ever bigger foreign exchange reserves by emerging countries which have faced sudden and massive withdrawals of international capital," Sarkozy said.

Some French officials have talked of a possible agreement on trading ranges for currencies, along the lines of the 1985 G5 Plaza Agreement. But Sarkozy stressed in his speech he was not advocating a return to fixed exchange rates.

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said France would use its G20 chair to discuss proposals for wider use of International Monetary Fund special drawing rights (SDRs) as a global reserve currency -- an idea mooted by China's central bank chief.

Russia too wants an alternative to the dollar's role as a global unit of account, while India and Brazil, among others, have sought to conduct more foreign trade in national currency.

French officials believe such a discussion would be of a sufficiently long-term nature to be unthreatening to the United States, while providing political cover for China, which has two-thirds of its reserves in dollars, to inch forward in letting the yuan appreciate.

Beijing is keen to diversify its holdings and reduce its dollar dependence over time without precipitating a sharp fall in the U.S. currency that could destabilize the international financial system and devalue its own assets.

It could also provide political cover for European countries to accept an inevitable reduction in their representation at the IMF to make room for the emerging economies, and possibly pool the euro zone's seats at the table.

"If the French can declare at the end of their year in the chair that they have laid the foundations of a new international monetary order and advanced the reform of the IMF, it will be a success for Sarkozy," said an expert advising Paris on its G20 presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

HEAVYWEIGHT CHALLENGER

It would also help Sarkozy wrest ownership of financial reform from IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a potential Socialist contender for the French presidency in 2012.

The IMF is working on new lending instruments for economies hit by crises not of their own making, such as a precautionary credit line for good performers, meant to discourage emerging economies from accumulating excessive currency reserves.

For domestic reasons, Sarkozy does not want Strauss-Kahn -- a former French finance minister -- to be credited as the savior of the world economy.

There are many possible pitfalls in Sarkozy's path.

The United States may refuse to go along with any discussion of currencies in the G20. European partners such as Germany and Britain may also prove unhelpful.

China, India and Russia may decline to take greater responsibility for unwinding financial imbalances which they feel are not their fault.

Further spasms in the euro zone debt crisis and a weak economic recovery may undermine Europe's ability to set the agenda. But that won't stop Sarkozy trying to set a Gallic stamp on the international financial system.

(Editing by Mike Peacock)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6850VN20100906

[oxthom]

How does this international monetary article fail to mention the impact of the "pending" IQD revaluation? Oh, that's right. It super top secret so the author isn't aware it's happening. Good thing we're on the inside! ;-) LOL

[Scooter]

Hey Kid,

Great post!!!! Sarkozy has been promoting this Agenda and meeting for the past 12 months but I don't think it's just because they hate the USD ---- The Europeans are getting equally slammed by the unfair trade with China. At a time when European debt is completely out of control, the US debt is equivalent to the our GDP, and the Whole Asian Economy, except Japan, is undervalued, where OH where is the safe-haven?????

Nevertheless, great work!

Scooter