Sanctions escalation and compliance spillovers

The EU’s proposed 20th Russia sanctions package expands energy, shipping, banking, and trade controls (including shadow-fleet listings and maritime services bans). Ukraine-linked firms face tighter due diligence on counterparties, routing, and dual-use items; enforcement pressure increases financing and logistics friction regionwide.

Fiscal tightening and sovereign risk

France’s 2026 budget continues consolidation, shifting costs onto sub‑national governments (≈€2.3bn revenue impact in 2026) and sustaining scrutiny after prior sovereign downgrades. Higher funding costs can pressure public procurement, infrastructure timelines, and corporate financing conditions.

Tariff activism and reciprocity rates

Tariffs are being used as a standing policy lever—e.g., a reciprocal 18% rate applied to Indian-origin goods under executive authority—raising import costs, increasing pricing volatility, and incentivizing firms to re-route sourcing, renegotiate contracts, and localize production.

Rising political instability risk premium

Government reliance on decrees and recurring no-confidence motions, alongside a credible National Rally path to power, elevates policy reversal risk. Businesses face higher regulatory uncertainty across energy, migration, and industrial policy, complicating stakeholder management, permitting, and long-term contracts.

Stricter sanctions enforcement on logistics

France’s detention and multi‑million‑euro fine of a Russia-linked ‘shadow fleet’ tanker signals tougher, physical sanctions enforcement. Energy traders, shipping, insurers, and ports must upgrade due diligence, document trails, and counterparty screening to avoid delays, seizures, and penalties.

Critical minerals alliance reshaping

Washington is building a “preferential” critical-minerals trade zone with price floors and stockpiling, pressuring partners to align and reduce China exposure. Canada’s positioning will affect mining, refining, battery investment and eligibility for U.S.-linked supply chains.

Plan masivo de infraestructura y energía

El gobierno lanzó un plan 2026‑2030 de MXN 5.6 billones (≈US$323 mil millones) y ~1,500 proyectos, con energía como rubro principal. Puede mejorar logística (puertos, trenes, carreteras) y confiabilidad energética, pero exige marcos “bancables” y certidumbre contractual.

Taiwan’s US investment guarantees expand

Taipei is backing outbound investment with government credit guarantees, potentially up to $250B, to support semiconductor and ICT supply-chain projects in the US. This lowers financing risk for firms expanding overseas, but may intensify domestic political scrutiny and execution constraints.

IMF program, refinancing pressure

Pakistan’s near-term macro path hinges on the IMF EFF/RSF reviews and continued rollovers from China, Saudi and UAE. Falling reserves (about $15.5bn) and a $1.3bn Eurobond due April 2026 elevate convertibility, payment and counterparty risk.

Patchwork U.S. AI and privacy regulation

State-led AI governance and privacy rules are expanding in 2026, adding transparency, bias testing, provenance, and reporting requirements. Multinationals face fragmented compliance across jurisdictions, higher litigation risk, and new constraints on cross-border data and HR automation.

Transición energética con cuellos

La expansión renovable enfrenta saturación de red y reglas aún en definición sobre despacho, pagos de capacidad e interconexión, clave para baterías y nuevos proyectos. Permisos “fast‑track” avanzan (p.ej., solares de 75‑130MW), pero curtailment y retrasos pueden afectar PPAs y costos.

Tougher sanctions enforcement compliance

Germany is tightening EU-sanctions enforcement after uncovering ~16,000 illicit Russia-bound shipments worth about €30m. Legislative reforms criminalize more violations and raise corporate penalties up to 5% of global turnover, increasing due‑diligence, screening and audit burdens.

CRE losses constrain regional lenders

Commercial real estate stress—especially office and maturing balloon loans—continues to pressure regional-bank capital and credit quality. As banks retrench, availability and pricing of construction, warehouse, and SME credit worsen, affecting US expansion plans and domestic supply-chain investment.

Réglementation agricole et contestation

Mobilisations contre la loi Duplomb et débats sur la réintroduction de pesticides (acéthamipride). Impacts: incertitude sur intrants, normes ESG et traçabilité, risques réputationnels, volatilité des coûts agroalimentaires et tensions sur accords commerciaux (ex. Mercosur).

Trade diversification via EU–CPTPP bridge

Ottawa is spearheading talks to link CPTPP and the EU through rules-of-origin cumulation, aiming to create lower-tariff, more flexible supply chains spanning roughly 1.5 billion consumers. If realized, it could reduce U.S. dependency and re-route investment toward export platforms.

Fiscal slippage raises funding costs

Breaches of the 2025 spending cap and widening deficits are pushing gross debt higher (about 78.7% of GDP) and inflating “restos a pagar” (R$391.5bn). Markets may demand higher risk premia, increasing hedging, financing and project-delivery risk.

Investment screening and national security

U.S. inbound (CFIUS) and outbound investment scrutiny is increasingly tied to economic security, especially for China-linked capital, data, and dual-use tech. Deal timelines, mitigation terms, and ownership structures are becoming decisive for cross-border M&A, JV approvals, and financing certainty.

Auto sector reshoring pressures

Canada’s integrated auto supply chain faces U.S. tariff threats on vehicles and parts plus competitiveness challenges versus U.S. incentives and Mexico costs. Companies should reassess North American footprints, content sourcing, and contingency production, especially for EV and battery supply chains.

Auto trade standards and market access changes

Seoul agreed to abolish the 50,000-unit cap recognizing US FMVSS-equivalent vehicles, and broader auto provisions remain in talks amid tariff threats. Even if volumes are modest, rule changes shift competitive dynamics and compliance planning for OEMs and suppliers.

Gümrük rejimi değişimi ve e-ticaret

6 Şubat 2026’da 30 avro altı basitleştirilmiş gümrük uygulaması kaldırıldı; tüm gönderilerde detaylı beyan zorunlu. Temu, yerel ithalatçı modeliyle geri döndü ve 580 TL alt limit koydu. De minimis reformu KOBİ ithalatçıları, e-ticaret lojistiği ve maliyet yapısını kalıcı değiştiriyor.

Kommunale Wärmeplanung steuert Nachfrage

Die kommunale Wärmeplanung entscheidet, wo Wärmenetze ausgebaut werden und wo dezentral (Wärmepumpe/Biomasse) dominiert. Unterschiedliche Planungsstände und Fristen erzeugen stark regionale Nachfrage-Cluster, beeinflussen Standortwahl, Vertriebsnetze, Lagerhaltung sowie Projektpipelines internationaler Wärme- und Infrastrukturinvestoren.

Sanctions escalation, maritime compliance

UK and partners continue expanding Russia-related sanctions and are considering tougher maritime actions against “shadow fleet” tankers. UK measures target LNG shipping services and designated energy firms, raising due-diligence burdens for traders, insurers, shipping, and commodity supply chains.

Ужесточение контроля судоходства

Запад переходит к физическому пресечению обхода: перехваты и досмотры танкеров, обсуждения ареста судов, давление на «безфлаговые» и переоформление танкеров под российский флаг. Фрахт, страхование и портовые сервисы дорожают, повышая сбои отгрузок.

Sanctions enforcement tightening and incentives

OFSI is reforming enforcement with a case‑assessment matrix, public penalties, and higher potential maxima (proposed £2m or 100% of breach value). Discounts up to 30% for voluntary disclosure/cooperation and cumulative reductions encourage faster reporting, raising compliance burdens for banks and traders.

Workforce bottlenecks in SHK trades

Skilled‑labor shortages in sanitary/heating/AC and related vocational pipelines constrain installation rates for heat pumps and network connections. For international firms, the bottleneck shifts value toward training partnerships, prefabrication, and service models—while increasing project delivery risk and warranty exposure.

IMF-backed macro stabilization push

IMF board review could unlock about $2.3bn, reinforcing Egypt’s shift to exchange-rate flexibility and fiscal consolidation. Record reserves near $52.6bn and easing inflation support confidence, but reforms can still trigger price adjustments and policy volatility for investors.

External financing rollover dependence

Short-term bilateral rollovers (e.g., UAE’s $2bn deposit extended at 6.5% to April 2026) underscore fragile external buffers. Debt-service needs and refinancing risk can trigger FX volatility, capital controls, delayed profit repatriation, and higher country risk premia.

Suez Canal security normalization

Container lines are cautiously returning to Red Sea/Suez transits after the Gaza ceasefire and reduced Houthi attacks, but reversals remain possible. Canal toll incentives and volatile insurance costs affect routing, freight rates, lead times, and inventory planning.

New trade deals and friend-shoring

US is using reciprocal trade agreements to rewire supply chains toward strategic partners. The US–Taiwan deal caps many tariffs at 15%, links chip treatment to US investment, and includes large procurement and investment pledges, influencing regional manufacturing footprints and sourcing decisions.

Tech exports: recovery with churn

Tech remains a core export engine (about 57% of exports; 17% of GDP), with 2025 funding rising to roughly $15.6bn. Yet job seekers doubled to 16,300 and talent outflows persist, affecting hiring, delivery risk, and investment underwriting for R&D-heavy operations.

U.S. tariff snapback risk

Washington threatens restoring “reciprocal” tariffs to 25% from 15% if Seoul’s trade-deal legislation and non‑tariff barrier talks stall. Autos, pharma, lumber and broad exports face margin shocks, contract repricing, and accelerated U.S. localization decisions.

Nuclear expansion and export-linked cooperation

Seoul is restarting new reactors (two 1.4GW units plus a 700MW SMR) while pursuing expanded US civil nuclear rights and fuel-cycle cooperation. This reshapes electricity price expectations, industrial siting, and opportunities for EPC, components, and uranium services.

Russia sanctions and enforcement

The UK rolled out its largest Russia sanctions package since 2022, targeting Transneft (moving over 80% of Russia’s crude exports), 48 shadow-fleet tankers and ~300 entities. Firms face heightened screening, shipping/insurance risk, and penalties for circumvention.

Labor reclassification and cost risk

A labor-law package aims to extend protections to roughly 5.7–8.6 million freelancers and platform workers via “presumed worker status,” shifting proof burdens to employers. Businesses may face higher labor costs, disputes, and operational redesign toward automation and subcontracting changes.

Nickel quotas tighten supply chains

Jakarta is cutting nickel ore production quotas (RKAB), including a steep reduction at Weda Bay Nickel, aiming to lift prices. Smelters may face ore shortages, raising import dependence (notably Philippines) and increasing volatility for EV-battery and stainless-steel supply chains.

Choques comerciais no agronegócio

Novas medidas de China e México sobre carne bovina alteram fluxo: a China impõe cota de 1,1 milhão t a 12% e excedente com sobretaxa de 55% (até 67% efetivo); México taxa acima de 70 mil t. Exige diversificação de destinos e ajustes na cadeia.