Global Finance Chiefs Urged to Keep Calm as Trade War Escalates

Finance chiefs from around the world wrapped up talks this week resigned to the reality that trade tensions, geopolitical mistrust and the euphoria over the US-led boom in artificial intelligence all pose increasingly entrenched risks to the global economy.

In Washington, where a partisan standoff closed the government into a third week, the mood at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund was a mix of relief that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs hadn’t caused a deeper slowdown and dread that the fallout was only just beginning to lift prices, squeeze profits and delay investments.

Heading into to the ...