The head of the International Monetary Fund urged countries to move "swiftly'' to resolve trade disputes that threaten global economic growth.

"If sustained, this abrupt increase in tariffs and attendant uncertainty will significantly slow global growth," the IMF wrote.

Policymakers should find a way to reduce the uncertainty over trade policy kicked up by Donald Trump's tariff plans in order to boost global growth, the International Monetary Fund's chief

Global public debt peaked in 2020 as governments borrowed heavily for COVID-19 relief. But it has been edging back up, and now it's accelerating.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its growth forecasts for the United States, China and most countries, citing the impact of U.S. tariffs now at 100-year highs and warning that rising trade tensions would further slow growth.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has played a balancing act trying to reassure nervous investors that the U.S. would maintain its global leadership role while staying true to the Trump administration’s skepticism of multilateral banking organizations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke Wednesday to international economists attending IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington D.C. this week, telling them the Trump administration wants to overhaul these institutions to create a more "sustainable international economic system.

The IMF and World Bank serve critical roles in the international system,” Bessent said in prepared remarks. “And the Trump Administration is eager to work with them — so