OECD chief voices concern over protectionist moves by US

In a curt advice to the Trump administration, Paris-based OECD today rejected protectionist agenda being pursued by the US and said multilateralism continues to be valid and worthy of being pursued.
Since assuming power, US President Donald Trump has spoken about protectionist measures like ending free trade agreements (FTAs) and going back on international commitments.
OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said international institutions like the WTO, those of the United Nations, OECD and the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and World Bank) were built on the idea that "multilateralism is the way to go".
"But when the country that was the central column of that process, casts doubt as to whether that was the better way to go then everybody starts looking around... Well so what do we do now? And that's what is going on now," Gurria said at an CII event here.

He said the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was built around the basis of free trade and free investment flows, but the "shock" today comes from the protectionist voices from the countries who built these institutions.
"Those set of values and the beliefs around which we built the world today continue to be valid, continue to be worthy of pursued and continue to be there as an aspirational goal. So let's not just let go, let's be on the course," Gurria said.

The Secretary General of the Paris-based think tank quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in saying that the industry and the government should work together to ensure inclusive growth.

"Let me finish quoting Narendra Modi which is politically correct and also appropriate. He said 'we should walk together work together, progress together. We should move ahead with this mantra'. We at the OECD stand ready to support India and to work with and for India to deliver, develop, design better policies for better life," Gurria said.
The OECD and the CII today entered into an MoU for cooperation in the fields of joint research, exchange of statistical data, seminars, workshops and related issues papers and proceedings and promotion and participation in each other's events.
"India's impressive growth has to become more inclusive so that the enormous potential this great nation has turns into a great equaliser of opportunities and well being. This is something that both India and world need," Gurria said.

OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with a mission to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.