China's 'inevitable' slowdown due to deleveraging: IMF economist

Rhee warns long lasting low interest rates will stress local banks

China's economic slowdown began long before the current coronavirus crisis, according to Changyong Rhee, the IMF's chief economist for the Asia-Pacific. © Reuters

FRANCESCA REGALADO, Nikkei staff writer

February 14, 2020 17:45 JST

TOKYO -- As markets and supply chains dependent on China grind to a halt, the International Monetary Fund cautioned against portraying China's economic slowdown in 2019 as an unexpected consequence of the coronavirus outbreak and trade tensions.