WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund supports an increase in the U.S. federal minimum wage to reduce poverty and inequality, but sees an argument for phasing the higher rate in slowly to gauge the impact on employment, the IMF’s chief economist said on Tuesday. The United States was still in an “emergency situation” with regard to the pandemic, and should accelerate vaccinations and testing, as well as targeted support to households and businesses, Gita Gopinath told Reuters in an interview.