Lebanon's Finance Minister Yassine Jaber says full IMF program requires passing financial gap law

Lebanon's Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said the country hopes for a new staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund, but a full IMF program still requires Beirut to pass a final law to address losses from its financial crisis. Jaber was in Washington to meet IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Lebanon first signed a staff-level agreement in April 2022, but reforms have been slow. The current government has fast-tracked reforms, including a banking restructuring law welcomed by the IMF in August. A source said a staff-level agreement could be signed as soon as Monday, while another said by year-end.