June 10th 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on Zoellick | 2 Comments
One of the best pieces yet on Zoellick’s time at CSIS and as US trade representative. Bizarrely, liberal economist Jagdish Bhagwati has accused Zoellick of pushing free trade at the expense of development: ”He was using bilateral deals with Chile and Singapore to try to ram through restrictions on the use of capital controls,” Bhagwati says. “I can’t think of a single developmental economist who would say this is a good idea, and it suggests a cavalier interest in developing countries.”
June 8th 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on Zoellick | Comments Off
Zoellick started the first leg of his African trip in Ghana on Wednesday. Ghanaian newspapers reported that Zoellick met with the ministers of finance of Ghana, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso and “discussed not countries but regional dimension of projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline“. While in Ghana he also met with vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama, energy minister John Adda, chairman of the public utilities regulation commission, Kwame Pianim, and with some civil society organisations, “all behind closed doors”. more…
June 5th 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on Zoellick | Comments Off
Steve Clemons on The Washington Note blog writes that “Zoellick was one of the ‘heroes’ who got the US government to sign on to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Zoellick headed the US effort and was the guide for EPA Administrator William Reilly through that effort. Clemons adds that he has spoken with “a number of environmental leaders at organisations such as the World Resources Institute who have said that Zoellick has been actively engaged with them - from the early 1990s up until now”. Cue that panda photo.
South Africa’s Independent Online reports that Chilean president Michelle Bachelet criticised the decision by the US administration to nominate yet another American to head the World Bank as “grotesque”. South African president Thabo Mbeki is also quoted as saying at the International Monetary Conference (a gathering of the world’s top officials from private and central banks) on the weekend that “future appointments should be made using an open and transparent selection process with candidates not restricted by nationality.” more…
June 1st 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on The Process | Comments Off
The International Trade Union Confederation’s general secretary Guy Ryder has said that the May 29 statement by the board “goes some way to allay the legitimate criticism of what have been unacceptable procedures for deciding who will lead the two main global financial institutions”. more…
June 1st 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on The Process | Comments Off
In a letter to the FT, Dr. Ngaire Woods, director of Oxford University’s Global Economic Governance programme, calls on Gordon Brown to “step up to the plate”. more…
May 31st 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on The Process | Comments Off
Yesterday Swedish finance minister Anders Borg answered a question from two MPs on the Swedish position on the selection process. more…
May 31st 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on Zoellick | 1 Comment
David Woodward of the UK thinktank new economics foundation, provides a thorough assessment of Zoellick’s time as US trade representative concluding that it is “a track record of arm-twisting, blackmail, pay-offs and abuse of power in the WTO to promote US interests at the expense of the developing world”. more…
May 31st 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on The Process, Zoellick | Comments Off
Bloomberg reports Australian treasurer Peter Costello: “Zoellick is an excellent candidate for the World Bank presidency and will be supported by Australia.” Australia joined Brazil and South Africa last week in calling for “transparent” selection process based on merit and open to citizens of all nations. “Following the completion of current processes, it is Australia’s view that the World Bank should examine the selection process for the president,” Costello said. more…
May 31st 2007 | Jeff Powell | More on Zoellick | Comments Off
A Norwegian government press release yesterday tries to have something for everyone. more…
