IMF withdraws Ricardo Reis’s candidacy for chief economist role after tariff criticism
The IMF cancelled the planned appointment of Portuguese economist Ricardo Reis to a senior research post after his earlier remarks criticizing Trump’s tariff policy were uncovered.
The IMF abandoned its intention to name Ricardo Reis, a Portuguese professor at the London School of Economics, as head of its research department and chief economic adviser after internal sources said his prior statements criticizing the Trump administration’s tariff strategy were retrieved. Reis had warned that the tariffs would raise consumer prices and spark inflation, remarks he made on social media and in a podcast.
The fund subsequently selected Silvana Tenreyro, also of the LSE and a former Bank of England official, to fill the role. The decision underscores the influence of the United States, the IMF’s largest shareholder, on senior appointments and reflects broader concerns about pressure on scholars who challenge U.S. trade policies. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva declined to comment on the recruitment process, while Reis also declined to speak. The episode follows earlier reports of U.S. officials demanding the dismissal of economists who opposed the tariffs.
