Frankfurt (Germany) (AFP) – US President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz, persistent growth worries, and slowing inflation are expected to prompt eurozone rate-setters to lower borrowing costs again on Thursday. It would be the European Central Bank’s seventh consecutive interest rate cut, with officials having shifted focus from taming consumer price rises to easing pressure on the sluggish eurozone economy. Trump’s tariffs have added to an already uncertain outlook for the single-currency area, with Europe firmly in his crosshairs, fueling fears about a heavy hit to the continent’s exporters.
Expectations that the Frankfurt-based institution will deliver a fresh rate cut were strengthened this week when data showed eurozone inflation eased to 1.9 percent in May, faster than expected and below its two-percent target. “Any doubts about an ECB interest rate cut this week have now been eliminated,” said Dirk Schumacher, chief economist at German public lender KfW. Analysts expect another quarter-point reduction that would take the central bank’s key deposit rate to two percent. Observers will be on the lookout for any hints from ECB President Christine Lagarde at her press conference that policymakers could hit pause at their next meeting in July, as some expect.
The ECB’s series of cuts stands in contrast to the US Federal Reserve, which has kept rates on hold recently amid fears that Trump’s levies could stoke inflation in the world’s top economy.
Lagarde may also face questions on her own future after the Financial Times last week reported she had discussed leaving the ECB early to take the helm of the World Economic Forum, which organizes the annual Davos gathering. The ECB has, however, insisted that Lagarde is “determined” to finish her term, which ends in 2027.
Trump, who argues his tariffs will bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, has already hit the EU with multiple waves of levies. The bloc currently faces a 10-percent “baseline” levy as well as higher duties on specific sectors. He has paused even higher rates on the EU and other trading partners to allow for talks, but he continues to launch fresh salvos that are keeping the world on edge. This week he doubled tariffs on aluminum and steel from 25 to 50 percent and last month threatened the EU with an escalation if it did not negotiate a swift deal.
For the ECB, it is a tricky task to protect the eurozone from the mercurial US president’s trade policies while keeping inflation stable. The ECB is expected to cut its inflation predictions when it releases its own new economic forecasts Thursday, with most observers now believing that Trump’s tariffs will add to downward pressure.
This is due to factors including tariff-hit China redirecting inexpensive manufactured goods to Europe, a recent strengthening of the euro, and potentially lower energy prices. The ECB is also likely to cut its growth estimates Thursday due to the impact of the trade war, after the EU slashed its forecasts last month. Lower inflation and slower growth should push the ECB to make further rate cuts, but there are some factors making this uncertain. These include signs of resilience in the eurozone economy at the start of the year and a potentially inflationary spending blitz planned by the new German government.
Given the lack of clarity, ING bank analyst Carsten Brzeski said he believes the ECB would like to take a breather at its next meeting in July. “Unless trade tensions return with a vengeance, our suspicion is that the ECB would like to stick to a wait-and-see approach over the summer,” he said.
© 2024 AFP
