According to multiple people familiar with the closed-door process under which nations selected Mathias Cormann of Australia, the Biden administration supported his rival, Cecilia Malmström of Sweden. But the United States is typically the kingmaker in the international economic policy forum, with a traditionally strong voice on the O.E.C.D. Activists have charged that Mr. Cormann could never have succeeded if the Biden administration had strongly opposed him. “It does not seem that the Biden administration made this a top priority, and that’s clearly disappointing,” she added. Climate advocates worldwide had mounted a fierce campaign against Mr. Cormann, as did the British Labour Party and Australia’s Green Party.

Source: International New York Times March 14, 2021 16:30 UTC