Lebanon enters new IMF talks amid economic crisis

BEIRUT: Lebanon on Tuesday began new talks with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout to help the country emerge from the worst economic crisis in its history, with progress stalled by its inability to pass banking reforms.

An IMF staff-level agreement reached in April 2022 laid out conditions to unlock assistance, including a law on the distribution of losses in the banking sector, known as the financial gap law, which parliament has still not voted on.

The two sides will meet until Friday and “what matters is we come out of this week with a preliminary agreement,” Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said.