IMF Says Trade ‘Reboot’ to Slow Growth, World to Dodge Recession

The head of the International Monetary Fund warned that the global economy will slow due to the US-led world trade “reboot,” but a recession isn’t in the forecast.

Speaking Thursday ahead of the IMF’s spring meetings next week in Washington, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the surge in protectionism fueled by US President Donald Trump’s tariff-threat diplomacy will stoke costly uncertainty, slow activity and stunt productivity.

“Trade goes on, but disruptions incur costs,” she said in the text of a speech in the US capital. “Our new growth projections will include notable markdowns, but not recession” while some countries ...