Rachel Reeves must get it just right in ‘Goldilocks’ pitch to IMF

When Rachel Reeves heads to Washington next week, she will visit her favourite bookshop.

According to government insiders, she may find a surprising source of economic inspiration in the children’s section at Kramers, a DC institution where the clientele has included Barack Obama, Andy Warhol and Monica Lewinsky.

Dubbed the “Goldilocks challenge”, Reeves is attempting to position the British economy between three protectionist bears: the United States, the European Union and China.

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The danger is that by prioritising trade with one bloc, she risks aggravating the other two. In a series of appearances at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring summit, Reeves knows she must get her message “just right”.

The chancellor will

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