CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves faces a nightmare day as she meets fellow finance ministers in Washington and push for a US trade deal.

The brutal reality of Labour's economic woes will be laid bare by global finance body the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when it sets out its latest economic forecasts. They are expected to reveal the UK will continue to struggle for the rest of the decade which would blow a massive hole in Keir Starmer's attempts to be re-elected for a second term.

The situation has grown even worse thanks to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs and, in the last few days, his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the head of America's central bank, which have caused stock markets to crash.

Ms Reeves will hold her first face-to-face meeting with American counterpart Scott Bessant for talks on an economic deal between the US and UK. Her top priority is to get an end to the 25% tariffs on steel and cars, and the US has also impose 10% levies on other UK good.

The Chancellor is to spend three days in the US capital for the IMF's spring meetings, which bring together finance ministers and business leaders from across the G7 and G20.

Ms Reeves said: "The world has changed and we are in a new era of global trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.

"This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will means for them. But our task as a Government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people's security.

"Instead, we must rise to meet the moment and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our plan for change."