Anti-Virus Economics, WTO Withdrawal, Trade War Respite: Eco Day

(Bloomberg) --

Welcome to Wednesday, Americas. Here’s the latest news and analysis from Bloomberg Economics to help you start the day:

• Monetary policy makers across the globe have expressed concern and signaled a willingness to act if coronavirus delivers a triple blow to demand, inflation and financial markets
  • Even so, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the disruption to China’s economy will spill over to the rest of the world
• The U.S. is mulling a plan to withdraw from a WTO pact worth $1.7 trillion in government contracts, a move that could anger close allies during a delicate moment for trade
  • Many top Trump aides also continue to discuss both privately and publicly the possibility of imposing restrictions on Americans’ investment in Chinese companies
  • Looking for respite from trade wars? There are still places companies can go if they want to avoid the full force of rising tariffs -- foreign trade zones.
• Brazil’s central bank is expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by a modest 25 basis points and signal an end to its record-breaking monetary easing cycle amid renewed economic uncertainty
• The world’s leading monetary authorities also have a $12 billion coal problem. One think tank says they should purge related assets from their balance sheets
• By coincidence rather than design, the euro will this year face one of the most comprehensive health checkups since its creation

To contact the reporter on this story: Lucy Meakin in London at lmeakin1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Gordon at pgordon6@bloomberg.net, Brian Swint

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