Outside the US, GDP growth in the first quarter generally exceeded expectations in the European Union, the UK, and emerging economies, including China. After the surge in imports that preceded the US tariff hike, the backlash in the second quarter will be more limited than expected in most cases. However, it would be premature to sound the all-clear, as three dangers loom: tariffs, inflation, and public debt.
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The latest monetary tightening in the United States between March 2022 and July 2023 resulted in much larger outflows of portfolio investments by non-residents than during the previous tightening (2016-2018) and the famous taper tantrum of 2013. However, emerging economies are less vulnerable to monetary tightening across the Atlantic than they were a decade ago. On the one hand, the impact of "flight to quality" capital movements by non-resident private investors on risk premiums and local currency bond yields is less significant. Secondly, the level and structure of corporate debt have improved.
Each year, summer is bookended by two landmark central banking conferences where central bankers, academics and a few members of the private financial sector congregate to discuss new research of interest for monetary policy and compare notes on the outlook: in late June, the ECB Forum held in the windy coastal town of Sintra, Portugal; and in late August in the scenic Rocky Mountains valley of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This year, the Sintra winds were blustery and relentless, but the discussions as calm, focused and insightful as ever, an apt metaphor for central bankers’ condition these days. Some key takeaways.
The rise in interest rates seen in the advanced economies since the end of Covid has been continuing in scattered order. Long-term interest rates have generally been on the rise, but with significant divergences. The general situation of uncertainty and the undeniably upward trajectories of public debt in advanced countries are having negative repercussions on the bond markets, which are likely to have a similar impact on the financing of the economy.
Under the impact of the Trump administration's tariff policy and the acceleration of US-China decoupling, global economic growth is expected to slow, international trade to reconfigure and the reorganization of value chains to continue. These changes will have multiple effects on emerging countries. Their export growth will slow and competition from Chinese products will increase. Some countries could nevertheless take advantage of new opportunities to attract FDI and develop their manufacturing base.
The sharp increase in US tariffs on Chinese imports is a major blow to Chinese exports and economic growth. However, Beijing has prepared for this, and the impact will be partially offset by its response strategy. In the short term, this strategy consists of redirecting exports to other markets, continuing monetary and fiscal policy easing, and boosting private consumption. The redeployment of exports has begun, but it could quickly run into new protectionist barriers. Domestically, the challenge will be to restore household confidence while the labour market may suffer as a result of the slowdown in the manufacturing sector.
India's economic growth is slowing down. Household consumption is sluggish, hampered by slower real wage growth and rising debt burdens, and private investment is weak. Given its low degree of openness, India will be little affected by US tariff increases, but it is unlikely to be spared altogether. Its room for negotiation with the Trump administration is limited. However, its domestic market is vast and allows for diversification of production in Asia. In order to take advantage of the Sino-US trade war, India will need to address the structural constraints weighing on the development of its industry quickly. However, the government's room for manoeuvre to push through reforms in the short term is very limited.
Thailand's real GDP growth remained solid in Q1 2025, but downside risks are high. Thailand is one of the Asian countries that has benefitted most from the trade tensions between the US and China, but the effects of the further tightening of US trade policy could be more painful. Its products might be taxed more heavily than those of its competitors in the US market, while the influx of Chinese goods could increase significantly. However, it could also benefit from new investment from foreign companies seeking to diversify their production chains. It has many advantages over some of its neighbours.
The tightening of US trade policy presents Brazil with numerous challenges and pressure points through its effect on economic growth, commodity prices, the need to defend its export market shares and heightened competitive pressure within its borders stemming from the rerouting of inexpensive goods. However, this new environment also presents Brazil with opportunities to reposition itself in the global trade landscape enabling it to take advantage of the reconfiguration of trade flows and global value chains. This shifting geography could also act as a catalyst to accelerate its trade integration (Mercosur, EU, Canada, Mexico). In the short term, however, the most pressing challenges will be domestic
The outlook continues to deteriorate in Mexico, one of the countries most exposed to US economic policy. The Mexican economy is set to contract in the coming quarters, with weak domestic demand unable to offset the marked slowdown in exports. Mexico's Minister of the Economy has begun talks with Washington on a faster-than-expected renegotiation of the USMCA free-trade agreement. The aim is to reduce the short-term uncertainty surrounding bilateral relations between the two countries.
GDP growth is holding up rather well in Chile, buoyed by the mining sector and a solid domestic demand. The outlook is relatively favourable: inflation is contained, fiscal consolidation should continue and political risk remains moderate in the run-up to the presidential election at the end of the year. Lastly, apart from the announcements regarding the copper sector, the direct impact of the increase in tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on the Chilean economy is relatively low. Indirect effects, volatile commodity prices and uncertainties over the pace of progress in the global low-carbon transition, on the other hand, represent a very significant risk for the Chilean economy.
After picking up again in fall 2024 and winter 2025, the Turkish economy is expected to bend. This is due to financial tensions since mid-March, the impact of US tariff increases on exports, and a more restrictive fiscal policy. But it will not break. Our scenario remains one of continued gradual disinflation, which would allow the monetary easing cycle to resume. The government's solvency should continue to strengthen, but external vulnerability, due to volatile portfolio investment, is likely to increase. However, with moderate twin deficits, historically low public debt and a solid banking sector, financial stability is not at risk.
The unexpected decline in Hungarian GDP in Q1 2025 will probably be followed by modest growth over the next few quarters, with consumption as the main pillar. However, Hungary will not escape the negative consequences of the US tariff shock, as it is a very open economy. More intense competition from China is expected, particularly on medium and high-tech products. Nonetheless, China remains a major investor in Hungary, mainly in the automotive sector.
Our growth forecasts have been revised downwards due to the tariff shock initiated by the United States, and the country's industrial specialisation. Slovakia is the most exposed Central European country to the Trump administration's tariff measures. The economy is heavily dependent on foreign trade and the automotive sector. The Slovak economy should avoid a recession thanks to public investment and consumption. The rise in inflation at the start of the year, following the increase in the VAT rate, is temporary and limited, and should not weigh heavily on consumption. In the medium term, the German stimulus plan and FDI inflows will be supportive factors for the economy.
The Slovenian economy is very open, making it highly sensitive to the economic situations of its main partners and to trends in world trade. The slump at the start of the year is due to the disruption in world trade. Household consumption and public investment should continue to underpin activity. Inflation is edging up on the back of wage pressures and a possible rise in energy prices. The resumption of government spending should lead to an increase in the budget deficit, but without causing any slippage and while keeping debt trends under control. The effects of US trade policy should remain moderate. However, the German economy remains the key factor in Slovenia's external performance.
In South Africa, the coalition government formed in June 2024 is overcoming its strong internal divisions one way or another. After three months of stormy negotiations, the final version of the 2025/2026 Budget, presented to Parliament at the end of May, was recently approved by all coalition parties. This is a necessary condition for regaining investor confidence, but it is not enough. The government will also have to ease diplomatic tensions with the United States. Without a significant rebound in investment, economic growth is likely to remain weak over the next three years, contributing to the fragility of public finances.
The outlook remains positive despite international turmoil. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is relatively unaffected by the tightening of US trade policy, has room to manoeuvre to cope with lower oil prices and the slowdown in global trade. Its economy is more diversified than that of other Gulf countries. It is also driven by its strong attractiveness to foreign investment and the support of the government. In the longer term, the UAE could also benefit from a potential reconfiguration of trade flows and leverage its assets to maintain its strategic relationship with the United States.
The Spending Review and the GBP 725 billion ten-year infrastructure plan, unveiled on 11 and 19 June, respectively, demonstrate the British government's desire to move away from forced fiscal consolidation. Getting public finances back on track remains a major challenge in the UK, which is constrained by pressure from the bond market, and provides a point of comparison for France. This is against a backdrop of major structural upheaval and growing investment needs. At this stage, we believe that the UK's fiscal consolidation strategy is credible, but the government is walking a tightrope.
While the Federal Reserve (Fed) estimates that uncertainty has eased, its conviction that a tariff-related rise in inflation is looming has hardened. The Committee (FOMC) nevertheless appears to be greatly divided on the balance of risks. We maintain our forecast that there will be no rate cuts in 2025 in light of renewed inflationary pressures combined with insufficiently slowing growth.
The quantitative theory of money — the idea that inflation in an economy depends on the quantity of means of payment in circulation — is a very old one. It is generally attributed to the French philosopher and jurist Jean Bodin, who, around the middle of the 16th century, was the first to have the intuition that the causes of the "rise in the price of all things" in Europe were to be found in the influx of precious metals from the New World.
