Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Alex Segura-Ubiergo visited Libreville during June 13-25 to conduct discussions for the second review of Gabon’s extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The EFF-supported program will help Gabon restore macroeconomic stability and lay the basis to sustain higher and more inclusive growth.

President Donald Trump has issued a warning to U.S. trading partners that unless they remove restrictions placed on American goods, they will face "more than Reciprocity by the U.S.A."

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, on June 22, approved a US$400 million loan to help enhance the impact and efficiency of the consolidated poverty reduction program of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This is the first Program-for-Results (PforR) operation in support of rural poverty reduction in China that links loan disbursements with results achieved on the ground. It is also a multi-sectoral operation that addresses agriculture, education, rural infrastructure, public financial management, and poverty monitoring systems.

On June 21, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the first review under the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) for Seychelles. The Executive Board’s decision was taken without a meeting.

Turkey announced Thursday that it would impose tariffs on $1.8 billion worth of U.S. goods in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Titled “Supporting Africa’s Transformation: Regional Integration & Cooperation Assistance Strategy”, the strategy will promote economic diversification and strengthening of regional value chains, build sub-regional energy and digital markets, help create productive jobs for youth, and tackle cross-border health and climate change risks.

On June 20, 2018 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Denmark, and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without meeting.

Germany continues to demonstrate a high level of anti-bribery enforcement having prosecuted and sanctioned 328 individuals and 18 companies in foreign bribery cases since 1999. Germany is commended for its focus on holding culpable individuals liable, however, with companies held liable in only a quarter of the concluded foreign bribery cases there are concerns that there is insufficient enforcement against companies, according to a new report by the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

On May 11, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Lebanon.

Lebanon’s economic growth remains low, estimated at about 1-1.5 percent in 2017 and 2018. The traditional drivers of growth in Lebanon are subdued with real estate and construction weak and a strong rebound is unlikely soon.

The Eurogroup commends the Greek authorities for the completion of all the agreed prior actions of the final review of the ESM programme. We congratulate the Greek authorities and Greek people for the successful conclusion of the ESM programme.