The International Monetary Fund said Asia's economic outlook faces significant uncertainty and downside growth risks from any sudden tightening in global financial conditions or rise in protectionist trade policies. <br/><br/>The IMF, which last month raised its 2017 Asia-Pacific growth forecast to 5.5 percent from its previous October forecast of 5.4 percent, said loose monetary and fiscal policies across most of the region would underpin domestic demand. <br/>'<br/>The report comes at a time when policymakers around the region are wrestling with the challenge of how to navigate rising risks of protectionism under U.S. President Donald Trump, and a potential increase in funding costs as the Federal Reserve steps up the pace of rate hikes