US-China Trade War Would Make World ‘Poorer’ – IMF

The International Monetary Fund has warned a trade war between the US and China risks making the world a “poorer and more dangerous place” in its latest assessment of the global economy.

The IMF has lowered its forecast for global growth this year and next.

It said that a full-blown trade war between the US and China would put a significant dent in economic recovery.

Its chief economist said further trade barriers would hit households, businesses and the wider economy.

“Trade policy reflects politics and politics remain unsettled in several countries, posing further risks,” said Maurice Obstfeld.

Most recently, China announced new trade tariffs on $60bn of US goods, including products such as liquefied natural gas, produced in states loyal to the US President Donald Trump.

In a tweet, Mr Trump warned Beijing against seeking to influence the forthcoming US midterm elections.

“There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!” he said.

US tariffs on $200bn of Chinese imports came into effect last month.

Risks to global growth?

Global economic growth is now expected to reach 3.7% in 2018 and 2019, down from the IMF’s previous prediction of 3.9% in July.

It said that risks to the short-term outlook had “shifted to the downside”.

Downgrades to global growth also reflected predictions of a slower expansion in the eurozone as well as turbulence in a number of emerging market economies.

Crisis-hit Venezuela is expected to enter its sixth year of recession in 2019, with inflation predicted to hit ten million per cent next year.

Argentina, which recently agreed an IMF bailout, is also predicted to see its economy shrink in 2018 and 2019.

Source: BBC