Industrial policy reshapes investment maps

CHIPS, IRA, and related subsidy programs are steering manufacturing and energy investment into the U.S., but with strict domestic-content and “foreign entity of concern” limits. Multinationals must align capex, JV structures, and supplier qualification to retain incentives and avoid clawbacks.

Election-driven fiscal and policy volatility

The Feb 8 election and “populism war” amplify risks of debt-funded stimulus, policy reversals, and slower permitting. Bond-curve steepening on fiscal worries signals higher funding costs and potential ratings pressure, affecting PPPs, SOEs, and investor confidence.

Ports and logistics corridor expansion

Egypt is building seven multimodal trade corridors, expanding ports with ~70 km of new deep-water berths and scaling dry ports toward 33. A new semi-automated Sokhna container terminal (>$1.8bn) improves throughput, but execution and tariff predictability matter.

Trusted cloud, data sovereignty requirements

France is accelerating ‘cloud de confiance’ policies (SecNumCloud) for sensitive data and public-sector workloads, encouraging shifts away from non‑qualified providers. Multinationals face procurement constraints, data‑hosting redesign, vendor selection changes, and potential localization-related compliance costs.

IMF-driven macro stabilization path

An IMF board review (Feb 25) may unlock a $2.3bn tranche, reinforcing exchange-rate flexibility and fiscal consolidation. Record reserves ($52.59bn end‑Jan) and easing inflation (~11.7%) improve import capacity, credit sentiment, and deal-making conditions.

BEG subsidies and budget risk

Federal BEG/BAFA support is critical to Wärmewende economics, but annual budget ceilings and frequent program adjustments create stop‑start ordering behavior. International suppliers face higher payment-cycle uncertainty, while investors must model demand cliffs, compliance documentation, and administrative throughput constraints.

FX volatility and yen defense

Yen weakness and intervention signalling (rate checks, possible US coordination) heighten hedging costs and pricing uncertainty for importers/exporters. Policy risk rises around election-driven fiscal expectations, complicating repatriation, procurement contracts, and Japan-based treasury management.

Black Sea corridor shipping fragility

The maritime corridor carries over 90% of agricultural exports, but repeated strikes on ports and logistics cut shipments by 20–30%, leaving a 10 million‑tonne grain surplus. Businesses face volatile freight rates, schedule unreliability, cargo security exposure, and alternative routing costs.

Customs reforms and tariff reclassification

Budget 2026 adds 44 new tariff lines and advances trust-based customs measures (longer AEO deferrals, longer advance rulings). This improves import monitoring and classification precision, affecting landed-cost modeling, product coding, and audit readiness for traders.

Data regulation tightening under DUAA

Most provisions of the UK Data (Use and Access) Act entered into force, expanding ICO powers and enabling fines up to £17.5m or 4% of global turnover under PECR. Multinationals face higher compliance costs for AI, marketing, and cross‑border data operations.

Cybersecurity enforcement and compliance

Regulators are escalating cyber-resilience expectations. A landmark ASIC case imposed A$2.5m penalties after a breach leaked ~385GB of client data affecting ~18,000 customers, signalling higher compliance burdens, greater board accountability, and heightened due diligence requirements for vendors handling sensitive data.

Illicit logistics hubs and environmental risk

Malaysia’s Johor area has become a key staging hub, with roughly 60 dark‑fleet tankers loitering for ship‑to‑ship transfers before onward shipment to China. Concentration increases accident/spill risk, port-state scrutiny, and sudden clampdowns that can strand cargoes and disrupt chartering.

LNG export surge and permitting

DOE/FERC are accelerating LNG export permitting and returning applications to “regular order,” driving new capacity filings (e.g., Corpus Christi expansion) and long-term 15–20 year contracts. Benefits include energy supply diversification; risks include oversupply and price volatility by 2030.

EU market access competitiveness squeeze

EU remains Pakistan’s largest high-value export market via GSP+ through 2027, but India’s EU trade deal erodes Pakistan’s tariff advantage. Textiles—about three‑quarters of EU imports from Pakistan—face tighter price and compliance pressure, threatening margins and investment plans.

Water treaty and climate constraints

Mexico committed to deliver at least 350,000 acre-feet annually to the U.S. under the 1944 treaty after tariff threats, highlighting climate-driven water stress. Manufacturers and agribusiness in northern basins face rising operational risk, potential rationing and stakeholder conflict over allocations.

Budget 2026 capex-led growth

Union Budget 2026–27 targets a 4.3% fiscal deficit with ₹12.2 lakh crore capex, prioritizing roads, rail corridors, waterways, and urban zones. Expect improved project pipelines and demand, but also procurement scrutiny and execution risk across states.

Port congestion and export delays

Transnet port underperformance—especially Cape Town—continues disrupting time-sensitive exports; fruit backlogs reportedly reached about R1bn, driven by wind stoppages, ageing cranes and staffing issues. Diversions to other ports add cost, extend lead times and raise spoilage risk.

Incertitude politique sur l’énergie

La PPE3 est politiquement inflammable: critiques RN/LR sur coûts et renouvelables, publication par décret, objectifs révisables dès l’an prochain. Pour les entreprises: risque de changements de règles d’appels d’offres, volatilité de subventions, planification CAPEX complexe.

Immigration settlement reforms and workforce risk

Home Office proposals to extend settlement timelines from five to ten-plus years could affect 1.35m legal migrants, including ~300,000 children, with retrospective application debated. Employers may face retention challenges, higher sponsorship reliance, and more complex mobility planning.

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.

India–US interim trade reset

A new India–US Interim Agreement framework cuts US tariffs on Indian goods to 18% (from as high as 50%) while India reduces duties on many US industrial and farm goods. Expect shifts in sourcing, pricing, and compliance requirements.

Sanctions-linked energy procurement risk

U.S. tariff relief is tied to India curbing Russian crude purchases, with monitoring and possible tariff snapback. Refiners face contractual lock-ins and limited alternatives (e.g., Nayara). Energy-intensive sectors should plan for price volatility and sanctions compliance.

TCMB makroihtiyati sıkılaştırma

Merkez Bankası, yabancı para kredilerde 8 haftalık büyüme sınırını %1’den %0,5’e indirdi; kısa vadeli TL dış fonlamada zorunlu karşılıkları artırdı. Finansmana erişim, ticaret kredileri, nakit yönetimi ve yatırım fizibilitesi daha hassas hale geliyor.

India–US trade pact reset

A new interim India–US trade framework cuts U.S. tariffs to ~18% on many Indian exports while India reduces tariffs and non-tariff barriers for U.S. goods. Companies should reassess rules-of-origin, pricing, market access, and compliance timelines.

Labor-law rewrite raises hiring risk

Parliament plans to enact a revised labor law before October 2026 following Constitutional Court mandates to amend the Job Creation/omnibus framework. Firms should prepare for changes in severance, contracting, and dispute resolution that could affect labor-intensive manufacturing competitiveness and investment planning.

US/EU trade policy pressure

Vietnam’s export engine faces heightened trade-policy risk, notably US tariff negotiations and stricter enforcement actions, plus EU standards. Record US surplus (~US$133.8bn in 2025) increases scrutiny of transshipment and origin compliance, raising duty, audit and rerouting risks.

Mining regulation and exploration bottlenecks

Mining investment is constrained by slow permitting and regulatory uncertainty. Exploration spend fell to about R781 million in 2024 from R6.2 billion in 2006, and permitting delays reportedly run 18–24 months. This deters greenfield projects, affects critical-mineral supply pipelines.

Shadow fleet interdictions and safety

France’s boarding of the GRINCH and allied moves to seize or detain shadow‑fleet tankers signal a shift from monitoring to physical enforcement. Aging, falsely flagged ships elevate spill, detention and force‑majeure risk for shippers, insurers, and terminals.

Ports competitiveness and political scrutiny

French ports face competitive pressure versus Northern European hubs, drawing heightened political attention ahead of elections. Potential reforms and labour relations risks can affect routing choices, lead times, and logistics costs for importers/exporters using Le Havre–Marseille corridors.

Ports and logistics labor uncertainty

U.S. supply chains remain exposed to port and transport labor negotiations and anti-automation disputes, increasing disruption risk at key gateways. Importers may diversify ports, adjust routing, and carry higher safety stock, especially when tariff timing triggers demand spikes and front-loading behavior.

North America China-evasion enforcement

U.S. officials are pressing partners to curb ‘non-market economy’ leakage into North American supply chains, spotlighting Chinese EVs and components. Companies may face tighter origin verification, audits, and customs enforcement, affecting sourcing strategies for autos, batteries, critical minerals, and electronics.

Pressão ESG: EUDR e rastreabilidade

A entrada em vigor do regulamento europeu antidesmatamento (EUDR) aumenta exigências de geolocalização, due diligence e segregação de cargas para soja, carne, café e madeira. Isso eleva custos de conformidade, risco de bloqueio de exportações e necessidade de tecnologia e auditorias.

China-linked FDI rules re-evaluation

India is reviewing Press Note 3 and may add a de minimis threshold to speed small-border-country investments while retaining scrutiny for sensitive sectors. This could reopen selective China capital and supplier participation, affecting JV structuring, procurement costs, and compliance with security reviews.

Regulatory and antitrust pressure on tech

Heightened antitrust and platform regulation increases compliance and deal uncertainty for digital firms operating in the U.S., affecting M&A, app store terms, advertising, and data practices. Global companies should anticipate litigation risk, remedy requirements, and operational separations.

Foreign real estate ownership opening

New rules effective Jan. 22 allow non-Saudis to own property across most of the Kingdom via a digital platform, boosting foreign developer and investor interest. This supports regional HQ and talent attraction, while restrictions in Makkah/Madinah and licensing remain key constraints.

IMF programme drives policy

IMF-backed reforms through 2027 anchor fiscal discipline, privatisation and revenue mobilisation, but also constrain policy flexibility. Review outcomes shape investor sentiment, sovereign risk pricing and the operating environment for imports, pricing, and capital repatriation across sectors.