The news is ongoing about the tariffs imposed by the US and their impact on the world economy and/or the world economic order.
The imposition of tariffs coupled with the fact that there is so much uncertainty in the world, caused by the unpredictability of economic policies and world events (such as the war between Russia and Ukraine or the war between Israel and Hamas- although it’s arguably wider than that) means it is more important than ever for you to learn Business English.
Proficiency in Business English helps businesses negotiate terms, understand documentation, and build stronger relationships with international partners, ultimately minimising the impact of trade barriers.
When there is so much uncertainty, it is also important to be proficient in Business English. According to the IMF’s world economic outlook, the level of uncertainty in the world economy is at an unprecedented high (seven times higher than it was during the Covid-19 pandemic). Hence, any forecasts it has made could decline further than predicted. The “reference” data it uses is immediately after the US imposed worldwide tariffs on all countries with which it trades (including some it does not) based on a formula that only the US president, and his advisers, can understand. (The data does not take into account the altering policy stance since then).
After the stock markets and bond markets tanked, US President Trump brought down tariffs to 10 percent for most countries (except for China) for 90 days but he’s even conceded that the tariffs will be much lower than those imposed on China now – which are between 145 percent and 245 percent, He’s also enacted some carve outs for the electronics sector. There will be more to come, I’m sure.
Given this background, the IMF had a big task forecasting the outlook for the world economy for the rest of 2005 and beyond. According to its World Economic Outlook, world GDP will grow by 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3.0 percent in 2026. For the euro area, growth will be 0.8 percent and 1.2 percent for 2025 and 2026 respectively. This is based on information that was available on 4 April, 2025.
Growth in the United States is expected to slow to 1.8 percent, a pace that is 0.9 percentage points lower relative to the projection in the January 2025 WEO update. The reason for this is that there is greater policy uncertainty about the world economy, trade tensions, and softer demand momentum. In 2026, those countries that have been significantly impacted have seen significant downgrades for countries affected most by recent trade. However, most countries received significant downgrades because of the tariffs.
Global headline inflation is expected to decline at a pace that is slightly slower than what was expected in January, reaching 4.3 percent in 2025 and 3.6 percent in 2026, with notable upward revisions for advanced economies and slight downward revisions for emerging market and developing economies in 2025.
What’s all this to do with Business English? Tariffs and the likelihood of greater bilateral trade will boost the necessity of learning Business English.
Since Business English is the language of trade- about 1.5 billion people speak English around the world either as a native speaker or as a second language– it is important to communicate clearly and concisely. Communication is vital at any time, and more so, when there are trade barriers. It facilitates clear communication, reduces misunderstandings, and enables easier navigation of international business operations.
Business English is a particular type of English. It is not only used in international trade and commerce, but it is also used in finance, insurance, banking, and many office settings. Indeed, it is imperative that you can write as well as speaking. The need to write well in Business English will move up a notch with the imposition of tariffs.
In other words, tariffs make it more important to speak the language of business.
For more go to www.learnbusinessenglish.net
