Geithner refuses to press Chinese on currency manipulation

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner refused to condemn Chinese currency manipulation on Tuesday when pressed in an interview with CNBC.

Geithner would not criticize China’s monetary policies, which critics allege skews the trade balance between the U.S. and China toward the latter.

“What we’re focused on is fixing the things we have to fix in the United States,” Geithner said when asked if previous administrations’ tack with China had been too aggressive. The Treasury secretary said he’d focus on “working with countries around the world to address this crisis,” including China.

Geithner was pressed on President Obama’s statements on the campaign trail calling China a currency manipulator, but still declined to call out the Chinese, instead praising them for taking a “constructive role internationally.”

“Look — you know, we’re going through an exceptionally challenging period globally.