International

OECD lowers global GDP growth forecast to 3.1% for 2025 amid trade uncertainty

The global scenario of commercial uncertainty and geopolitical conflicts will lead the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to experience a lower growth rate than expected, which could be 3.1% this year, according to economists from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

This dynamic will continue to decline through 2026, hindered by the growing fragmentation of the global economy. If tariff threats or their implementation persist, global GDP growth is expected to slow to 3% in 2026, diverging from the 3.3% projected in December.

“The increase in trade barriers will affect global growth, fuel inflationary pressures, and undoubtedly drive more restrictive monetary policies, which could lead to further price disruptions.”

This information was disclosed in the Interim Economic Outlook, one of the four reports released annually (in March, May, September, and December), where OECD experts update their growth forecasts.

The economists’ expectations for the United States, the world’s largest economy, are a growth rate of 2.2% for this year, lower than the 2.8% observed in 2024, incorporating a cut of two-tenths from the December estimate.

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OECD experts explained that due to the uncertainty caused by changes in U.S. trade policies, there was a notable increase in merchandise imports to the world’s largest economy during January.

In the March and November updates, the OECD economists restrict their updates to G20 countries only.

International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

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International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

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International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

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Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.