IMF Warns of Protectionist Threat to Global Growth

The IMF left its global economic forecasts unchanged into 2017 but called on governments to take action against the threats of low growth and protectionism. With Britain voting to secede from the European Union and US presidential candidates disfavoring open borders, the International Monetary Fund said populist politics imperiled free trade and economic growth. Global output is expected to grow this year by 3.1 percent before rising to 3.4 percent next year, estimates that are unchanged from July, according to the IMF´s new World Economic Outlook report. The IMF notably cut its outlook for the United States, the world´s largest economy, but upgraded those for Japan and the euro zone.