IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday that new US tariffs "clearly represent a significant risk to the global outlook" and urged Washington to work with its trading partners.
The statement was the first from the IMF chief after President Donald Trump's latest worldwide tariff barrage deepened a trade war that many fear will invite global recession and fuel inflation.
The tariffs “clearly represent a significant risk to the global outlook at a time of sluggish growth,” the head of the International Monetary Fund said in a statement.
“It is important to avoid steps that could further harm the world economy,” Georgieva added.
“We appeal to the United States and its trading partners to work constructively to resolve trade tensions and reduce uncertainty.”
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), headquartered in Washington, D.C., predicted in January that global growth would reach 3.3% this year. This is lower than the average global growth rate of 3.7% during the first two decades of the 21st century.
The IMF will release its updated outlook later this month, coinciding with the Spring Meetings in Washington. The unprecedented US trade tariff onslaught will be a central topic of discussion at these meetings.