ECONOMY/IMF/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The global economy is looking stronger than it has in years, but as world leaders gather here this week for the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, they will be particularly attuned to possible economic disruptions stemming from decisions being made just a few blocks away at the White House. In a report released Tuesday [4-17-18] morning, the International Monetary Fund said stronger business investment and trade were buoying the world’s economy. Global growth is on track to reach an annual rate of 3.9 percent this year and next, propelled by the economies of Europe, Japan, China and the United States. That would be up from 3.8 percent in 2017, which was the strongest growth since 2011. But the spring version of the World Economic Outlook, the fund’s semiannual report card on the health of the international economy, outlined big risks — including the growing likelihood of a trade war and government policies that could overheat the United States economy. Though the report did not mention President Trump by name, some of the risks — including a trade war — are linked to his policies.”
-Ana Swanson, “I.M.F. Sees Global Risk in Trump Trade Threats,” The New York Times online, April 17, 2018