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US criticises Germany and China policies | US criticises Germany and China policies |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The US has criticised Germany's economic policies, saying that its export-led growth model is hurting the eurozone and the wider global economy. | The US has criticised Germany's economic policies, saying that its export-led growth model is hurting the eurozone and the wider global economy. |
In its bi-annual report, the US Treasury said that domestic demand growth in Germany had been "anaemic". | |
It also reiterated its view that the Chinese yuan continued to remain "significantly undervalued". | |
The report has criticised Chinese policy before, but criticism of German economic policy is rarer. | The report has criticised Chinese policy before, but criticism of German economic policy is rarer. |
"Germany's anaemic pace of domestic demand growth and dependence on exports have hampered rebalancing at a time when many other euro-area countries have been under severe pressure to curb demand and compress imports in order to promote adjustment," the Treasury said. | |
"The net result has been a deflationary bias for the euro area as well as for the world economy." | "The net result has been a deflationary bias for the euro area as well as for the world economy." |
'Bit strange' | 'Bit strange' |
Germany, the eurozone's largest economy, has been one of its key drivers of growth in recent years. | |
Its importance to the 17-nation bloc has only increased since the development of the region's debt crisis, which has affected other bigger economies such as Italy and Spain. | |
Germany has been one of Europe's stronger economic performers and its exports prowess is seen as one of its key strengths. | |
It narrowly avoided recession earlier this year, but GDP in the second quarter of 2013 was driven up by demand from both consumers and businesses. | |
Analysts said that while Germany could benefit from boosting domestic demand, the criticism levelled at its policies was unfair. | |
"I think this is a bit strange," Tony Nash, vice president at IHS, told the BBC. "The eurozone has to get growth from somewhere and Germany is the most likely place for that to happen." | "I think this is a bit strange," Tony Nash, vice president at IHS, told the BBC. "The eurozone has to get growth from somewhere and Germany is the most likely place for that to happen." |
"And it is better for the eurozone to have a highly concentrated, efficient and skilled export powerhouse in Germany than not have any major engine of growth," he added. | |
Yuan concerns | Yuan concerns |
In recent years, the US and many other economies have alleged that China tries to keep the value of its currency artificially low. | In recent years, the US and many other economies have alleged that China tries to keep the value of its currency artificially low. |
They say that, by doing so, Beijing gives an unfair advantage to its exporters, as an undervalued currency makes its good cheaper to foreign buyers. | |
For its part, China has been looking to loosen its grip on the currency as it looks to push for a more global role for the yuan. | For its part, China has been looking to loosen its grip on the currency as it looks to push for a more global role for the yuan. |
But Beijing has maintained that a sudden and sharp appreciation in the value of the yuan will hurt its overall economy. | |
The yuan has risen nearly 12% against the US dollar since June 2010. | The yuan has risen nearly 12% against the US dollar since June 2010. |
While the Treasury acknowledged that the yuan had been rising, it said the appreciation was "not as fast or by as much as is needed". | While the Treasury acknowledged that the yuan had been rising, it said the appreciation was "not as fast or by as much as is needed". |
"On the other hand, the evidence that China has resumed large-scale purchases of foreign exchange this year, despite having accumulated reserves that are more than sufficient by any measure, is suggestive of actions that are impeding market determination and a currency that is significantly undervalued," it added. | "On the other hand, the evidence that China has resumed large-scale purchases of foreign exchange this year, despite having accumulated reserves that are more than sufficient by any measure, is suggestive of actions that are impeding market determination and a currency that is significantly undervalued," it added. |
However, the report did not label China as a currency manipulator. | However, the report did not label China as a currency manipulator. |