IMF pushes back on report that candidate dropped over tariff remarks
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund pushed back Thursday on a report that its lead candidate for chief economist had been dropped after he was found to have criticized the Trump administration’s policies. London School of Economics professor Ricardo Reis was set to take on the role when the IMF changed its position at the last minute, the Financial Times reported earlier Thursday. The…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) refuted a report suggesting its candidate for chief economist, Ricardo Reis, was removed due to his critical comments on the Trump administration’s tariff policies. The Financial Times initially reported that Reis, a professor at the London School of Economics, lost the position at the last minute over his remarks criticizing US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
However, the IMF clarified that the decision was not based on Reis’ academic research, which the organization does not consider disqualifying. Instead, the position was filled by Silvana Tenreyro, another LSE professor, after a thorough selection process. In response to the report, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack clarified that the fund does not disqualify candidates based on their academic research, even if it's critical of policies pursued by its membership.
Reis had previously warned that Trump’s tariffs would lead to higher consumer prices and increased inflation. This incident highlights the challenges economists face navigating the political climate under the Trump administration.
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