Experts warn that the global economy could be on the verge of destabilization if the debt situation in the United States is not swiftly addressed. According to Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, US lawmakers must reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling if a widespread catastrophe is to be avoided.
Appearing on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Dimon called for the end of political discord within the United States government, urging legislators to come together and focus on the pressing matter. He warns that failure to reach a resolution could result in disastrous consequences worldwide.
“Of course, Democrats can blame Republicans and the Republicans can blame the Democrats…That is part of the financial structure of the world. [But] this is not something we should be playing games with at all,” he said.
“Americans should understand that the American financial system is basically the crux of the financial system of the world and we shouldn’t play with it.”
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Tensions were high in Congress this week as Democrats and Republicans remained at an impasse over the federal government’s running up of its $38 trillion borrowing limit. Currently, the Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives, and they have voted against raising the debt ceiling without exacting spending cuts. Democrats, on the other hand, have kept their firm stance on raising the debt ceiling free of conditions.
"There will be no negotiations over the debt ceiling," said White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton on Thursday. "Congress must address this without conditions as they did three times under Donald Trump."
Investors are hoping that Congress can reach a deal to avoid default, but it's unlikely that the process will be a swift one. That said, dragging out the negotiations would only contribute to the growing market volatility.
Meanwhile, corporate leaders are on edge about the current stalemate. David Solomon, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., says that he and his firm will take every opportunity they can to "engage with people in Washington" and emphasize the severity of the current situation.
