Canada’s central bank lowered its key interest rate by half a percentage point while highlighting the risk of U.S.

The Bank of Canada is poised to cut its key policy rate by another 50 basis points on Wednesday as weak unemployment numbers and poor growth underscore an economy that needs support, economists and analysts said.

In its final major cut of the year, the Bank of Canada has lowered the policy interest rate from 3.75% to 3.25%.