	u s treasury s baker says rate shifts orderly treasury secretary james baker said that changes in exchange rates have generally been orderly and have improved the prospects for a reduction in external imbalances to more sustainable levels in remarks before the imf s policy making interim committee baker reiterated a group of seven statement last night that the substantial exchange rate changes since the plaza agreement months ago have now brought currencies within ranges broadly consistent with economic fundamentals baker said these exchange rate shifts have generally been orderly and have improved prospects for the reduction of external imbalances to more sustainable levels as they are today the trade and current account imbalances simply are not sustainable baker told the ministers he said that the reagan administration was resisting strong domestic pressure for trade protection and was working closely with the u s congress in crafting a trade bill while we cannot yet be sure of the outcome we are doing what we can to ensure that the bill is not protectionist he said baker also urged the international monetary fund s executive board to review possible modifications to the fund s compensatory financing facility before the annual meeting this fall we should pay particular attention to the lack of continuing conditionality associated with the use of the cff and to whether shortfalls in export earnings are indeed temporary he said reuter 
