How Does the Government Regulate Exchange Rates?

By Kimberly Amadeo Updated July 29, 2020

The government indirectly regulates exchange rates because most currency exchange rates are set on the open foreign exchange market (Forex). In some countries, like China, the exchange rate is fixed, and the government directly controls it. This Chinese currency rate control of their yuan, in turn, affects the U.S. Dollar. The yuan is loosely pegged to the U.S. dollar.

Government Influence

The U.S. government has various tools to influence the U.S. dollar exchange rate against foreign currencies. The nation's central bank—known as the Federal Reserve (Fed)—is an independent arm of the government. It indirectly changes exchange rates when it raises or lowers the fed funds rate—the rate banks charge to lend to each other.

For example, if the Fed lowers the rate, that drives down interest rates throughout the U.S. banking system. It also reduces the supply of money. Both of these results make the dollar stronger relative to other currencies. That's because U.S. dollar-denominated credit has become more expensive. At the same time, dollar-denominated assets generate a higher return. Both create more demand for the dollar while taking it out of circulation. The laws of demand and supply tell you that less supply and more demand drives up the price.

When that happens to the dollar, it can purchase more foreign currency on forex markets.

Treasury Department Role

The Treasury Department is a government agency that also indirectly affects the exchange rate. It prints more money. This printing increases the supply and weakens the dollar. It can also borrow more money from other countries. That's done by selling Treasury notes. That increases the supply of money and increases the U.S. debt, and both will send the dollar's value down.

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