WASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) - There was "some evidence" that China wants the dollar to weaken as the international reserve currency, said a White House nominee for a top economist position on Tuesday, and he urged Congress to raise the U.S. debt ceiling to protect the dollar's value.
Asked by Republican Senator Bill Haggerty where he stood now, Bernstein said, "I share your view on the importance of the dollar as the dominant reserve currency."
He said raising the debt ceiling would help maintain the dollar's reserve currency status and protect its value.
The Treasury report criticized China for not publishing foreign exchange intervention and lack of transparency around its exchange-rate mechanism.
Weak tax collections in April could mean the U.S. government's deadline to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling will happen sooner than expected, analysts said on Tuesday.