Trump's trade salvos test nerves of central bankers

AN ANXIOUS SENSE of wait-and-see may emerge from central banks in the coming week, in their first collective assessment of how US President Donald Trump's trade policies are impacting the world economy.

- CRAIG STIRLING

With global tariffs now in place on steel and aluminum, and with Canada, China and the European Union (EU) all suffering Trump's ire, what were unrealized threats a few weeks ago have now emerged as full-blown hindrances to commerce.

New-found worries about a potential US recession that gripped Wall Street in the past week probably won't spur the Federal Reserve to deliver more easing on Wednesday, and unchanged interest rates are also the most likely outcomes at meetings in Japan, the UK and Sweden. Officials in South Africa, Russia and Indonesia may follow suit.