Global public debt peaked in 2020 as governments borrowed heavily for COVID-19 relief. But it has been edging back up, and now it's accelerating.

Higher tariffs and heightened geopolitical tensions may push government debts to new highs over the coming years, making the need for policymakers to outline robust plans for containing the surge more pressing,

Economic pressures from steep new U.S. tariffs will push global public debt above pandemic-era levels to nearly 100% of global GDP by the end of the decade as slower growth and trade strain government budgets,