FMI/Haddad: Trade tensions aggravate scenario and push the world to a record level of uncertainty

By Aline Bronzati, special correspondent Washington, 10/15/2025 - The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, dedicated a large part of his statement to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) to criticize the global impacts caused by the tariff hike of United States President Donald Trump. Brazil was one of the most affected by the White House's new trade policy, with its products taxed at 50%. "The global economy is navigating uncharted waters. Trade tensions triggered by unilateral measures have harmed countries with both surplus and deficit relationships, fueling record levels of uncertainty," Haddad assesses, in a letter to the IMF Committee on the occasion of the IMFC meeting, which takes place between October 16 and 17, during the annual meetings of the organization, in Washington. According to him, Trump's tariffs exacerbate a challenging scenario, characterized by low growth, persistent inflation, higher interest rates for longer, and increasing debt ...