International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has warned that the broad tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump pose a serious risk to the global economy at a time of sluggish growth.
In a statement on Thursday, Georgieva urged the U.S. and its trading partners to avoid actions that could further damage economic stability and instead work toward de-escalating trade tensions.
“We are still assessing the macroeconomic implications of the announced tariff measures, but they clearly represent a significant risk to the global outlook at a time of sluggish growth,” she stated. “It is important to avoid steps that could further harm the world economy.”
The IMF will release its formal assessment of the tariffs in its updated World Economic Outlook during its April 21-26 meetings in Washington, D.C., where members and shareholders of the IMF and World Bank will convene.
Earlier this week, Georgieva told Reuters that while Trump’s tariff policies were fueling uncertainty and undermining confidence, they were not expected to trigger an immediate recession. However, she noted that the IMF would likely revise its economic outlook downward in light of recent developments.
The tariffs, announced on Wednesday, exceeded expectations and caught trade experts off guard, signaling a potential shift in global economic relations.
