IMF issues fresh warning, says trade war risks weighing on global economy

While the US trade war with China has cooled with a recent truce and renewed talks, the world's second-largest economy has slowed amid President Donald Trump's tariffs

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said more work is needed to further reduce global trade imbalances amid increasing tensions, while issuing a fresh warning that such conflicts are weighing on the global economy.
 
“It is imperative that all countries avoid policies that distort trade,” the IMF said in its annual External Sector Report released Wednesday in Washington. “Against a backdrop of escalating trade tensions, greater urgency is needed in tackling persistent excess imbalances.”
 
The report comes as the Washington-based fund confronts a surge in protectionism around the world that’s seen dragging on global growth, with output slowing in