Is a “post-Washington consensus” forming to reshape global economic policy?
INTERVIEWER: Do you see some new consensus emerging in the next round of trade talks? JORGE CASTANEDA: There is some agreement, there is some beginning of a consensus, sort of a post-Washington consensus. It’s still at a very incipient level. It’s somewhat abstract. For example, you feel you have to do something about asymmetries. This is an issue that’s been coming up constantly in the speeches. The small countries, the poorer countries, the poorer regions of all countries, the poorer sector of each society need a special deal. They cannot just be left out because if they are, they’ll never be brought in. There is a growing consensus on that, but there isn’t necessarily a consensus on what to do. The notion of social cohesion funds which is something that Fox has been pushing and pushing and pushing. It’s making headway. He’s only been pushing now for a few months so he’s making a lot of headway very quickly. INTERVIEWER: Last week I interviewed Robert Rubin and talked about the Washi
