Currency may take back seat in US talks

Despite mounting Congressional pressure, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner might play down the currency issue during his upcoming visit to China as he seeks help to fight the financial crisis, experts said.

Geithner will make his first official visit June 1-2 as the two economic powerhouses prepare for the new China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue scheduled for this summer in Washington.

The visit comes days after US lawmakers proposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties to retaliate against countries, including China, that allegedly depress the value of their currencies to boost exports.