IMF-WB meetings end with little tariff clarity

WASHINGTON, Apr 27 (Reuters): Global finance leaders came to Washington this past week seeking clarity on what it would take to get some relief from President Donald Trump's multi-layered tariff assault and on just how much pain it will bring to the world economy.
Most headed home with more questions than answers.
Many participants in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings had a sense that Trump's administration was still conflicted in its demands from trading partners hit with his sweeping tariffs.
During the whirlwind week, many finance and trade ministers sought to meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other key Trump administration officials, to no avail. Those that did were often told to be patient - even as the clock steadily ticks down on the 90-day pause Trump had granted on the steepest levies.
Indeed, not a single deal was finalized over the course of the week despite the Trump administration touting the receipt of 18 written proposals and a full slate of negotiations.
"We are not negotiating. We are just presenting, discussing the economy," said Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski. He added that he stressed "how this uncertainty is bad for Europe, for the US I mean, it's actually bad for everyone."
Warnings that the tariffs - 25 per cent on all US imports of vehicles, steel and aluminum and currently 10 per cent for most everything else - would cause painful damage to the US and other major economies went largely unheeded by US officials.
"We know that they think - that it won't be that bad," Domanski said.