The International Monetary¹ Fund (IMF) on Thursday warned that significant uncertainty² over Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU) is likely to dampen economic growth in Britain, Europe and the rest of the world.

 

国际货币基金组织周四发出警告，英国脱欧的不确定性有可能抑制英国、欧洲以及世界其他地区的经济增长。

 

"I would say Brexit has created significant uncertainty, and we believe this is likely to dampen growth in the near term, particularly in the UK but with repercussions³ also for Europe and the global economy," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said at a regular press briefing.

 

Rice said "one notable source of this uncertainty" concerns the terms of the future relationship between the UK and the EU and how the new relationship will impact business.

 

Following a decision to exit the EU, Britain would need to negotiate the terms of its withdrawal⁴ and a new relationship with the EU.

 

"Prolonged periods of uncertainty and associated declines in consumer and business confidence would mean even lower growth," he said, noting that policymakers in the UK and the EU "have a key role to play" to make a smooth and predictable transition and help reduce the uncertainty.

 

Rice said market movements immediately following Britain's referendum last week "were large but not excessively disorderly," and the IMF strongly supports the commitments made and the steps taken by major central banks to "provide liquidity⁵ and curtail⁶ excess financial volatility⁷."

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