The world economy is at a “pivotal juncture” as trade tensions flare, members of the International Monetary Fund said in a draft statement after a week of discussions that have been overshadowed by US President Donald Trump’s trade war.

"If sustained, this abrupt increase in tariffs and attendant uncertainty will significantly slow global growth," the IMF wrote.

The U.S. economy will experience sluggish growth in 2025 due to an escalating trade war and "high levels of policy uncertainty," the International Monetary Fund said in a report Tuesday. The projections reinforce economists' warnings about the negative repercussions of President Trump's tariffs on the economy.