Immigration politics and labor supply

Foreign labor is now a core election issue. Japan plans to accept up to 1.23 million workers through FY2028 via revised visas while tightening residence management and enforcement. For employers, this changes hiring pipelines, compliance burdens, and wage/retention competition.

Turizm döviz girişi ve talep

2025 turizm geliri 65,23 milyar $ (+%6,8), ziyaretçi 63,9 milyon (+%2,7). Güçlü döviz girişi cari dengeyi ve hizmet sektörünü destekliyor; perakende, konaklama ve lojistikte kapasite planlamasını etkiliyor. Bölgesel gerilimler talepte ani düşüş riski taşır.

B40 biodiesel mandate impacts fuels

Indonesia will maintain the B40 palm-based biodiesel mandate through 2026 under PP No. 40/2025, after saving an estimated Rp720 trillion in FX and cutting ~228 million tons CO2 (2015–2025). Higher domestic palm demand can tighten CPO export availability and price volatility.

EU market access with green compliance

An India–EU FTA conclusion and stricter EU climate/traceability tools (e.g., CBAM-type reporting) increase both access and compliance burdens for exporters in steel, aluminum, chemicals and textiles. Firms should invest in emissions data, auditing, and supplier traceability.

Labour shortages, migration recalibration

Mining, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing face persistent skills shortages; industry is pushing faster skilled-migration pathways while government tightens integrity and conditions in some visa streams. Project schedules, wage costs and compliance burdens are key variables for investors and EPC firms.

USMCA 2026 review renegotiation

Washington and Mexico have opened talks to rewrite USMCA ahead of the July review, targeting tougher rules of origin, critical minerals cooperation, and anti-dumping tools. North American manufacturers should prepare for compliance redesign, sourcing shifts, and border-process bottlenecks.

Automotive transition and investment flight

Auto suppliers warn of relocation: 72% are delaying, cutting or moving German investment; 64% cut jobs in 2025. EU CO₂ rules, EV competition and high energy prices drive restructuring. Supply chains should plan for capacity shifts and tier-2 insolvency risk.

CFIUS and data-driven deal risk

Foreign acquisitions involving sensitive data and systemic assets face heightened CFIUS exposure, as seen in potential scrutiny of ETS/TOEFL due to personal data concentration and institutional role. Cross-border investors should plan for mitigation, deal delays, and valuation haircuts.

Verteidigungsboom und Beschaffung

Deutschlands Aufrüstung beschleunigt Investitionen: über 108 Mrd. € stehen für Modernisierung bereit; zusätzlich 536 Mio. € für loitering munitions, Rahmen bis 4,3 Mrd. €. Chancen entstehen für Zulieferer, Dual-Use-Technologien und IT, aber Exportkontrollen, Compliance und Kapazitätsengpässe nehmen zu.

Tax and GST compliance digitization

Authorities are shifting to data-driven, risk-based enforcement: expanded e-invoicing and automated “nudge” campaigns, plus proposed e-way bill reforms toward trusted-dealer, tech-enabled logistics. This raises auditability and system-risk exposure, especially for MSMEs and cross-border traders.

Critical minerals export controls

China’s expanding controls on dual-use goods and critical minerals (rare earths, gallium) and licensing slowdowns—seen in Japan-related restrictions and buyers diversifying to Kazakhstan—create acute input risk for semiconductors, EVs, aerospace, and defense-linked manufacturing worldwide.

Enerji arzı çeşitlenmesi ve LNG

Türkiye’nin LNG alımları artıyor; uzun vadeli kontratlar ve FSRU kapasitesi genişlemesi gündemde. Bu, enerji yoğun sektörlerde maliyet öngörülebilirliğini artırabilir; ancak gaz fiyatlarına ve jeopolitik risklere duyarlılık sürer. Sanayi yatırımlarında enerji tedarik sözleşmeleri kritikleşiyor.

US–Taiwan tech security partnerships

Deepening cooperation on AI, drones, critical minerals, and supply-chain security signals a shift toward ‘trusted networks’. Companies may gain market access and certification pathways, but face stricter due diligence on China exposure, data governance, and third-country joint projects.

Red Sea and Suez volatility

Shipping disruptions tied to Houthi threats against Israel-linked vessels continue to reshape routing and costs. Even as some carriers test Suez returns, renewed escalation risks keep freight rates, lead times, and inventory buffers volatile for Asia–Europe supply chains.

Energy sourcing and sanctions exposure

Trade diplomacy increasingly intersects with energy decisions, with US tariff relief linked to expectations on reducing Russian oil purchases and boosting US energy imports. Companies should plan for price volatility, sanctions and reputational risk, and potential knock-on effects on shipping insurance and payments.

Regional HQ and market access leverage

Riyadh continues using policy to anchor multinationals locally, linking government contracting and strategic opportunities to in‑kingdom presence. Reports indicate over 200 companies have relocated HQs to Riyadh. This affects corporate structuring, tax residency, talent deployment, and bid competitiveness.

USMCA review and tariff risk

Washington and Mexico have begun talks on USMCA reforms ahead of the July 1 joint review, with stricter rules of origin, anti-dumping measures and critical-minerals cooperation. Uncertainty raises pricing, compliance and investment risk for export manufacturers, especially autos and electronics.

Disaster and BCP-driven supply chains

Japan’s exposure to earthquakes and extreme weather is pushing stricter business-continuity planning and inventory strategies. Companies are investing in automated, earthquake-resilient logistics hubs and longer lead-time services to dampen disruption risk, affecting warehousing footprints, insurance costs, and supplier qualification.

Semiconductor supercycle and capacity

AI-driven memory demand is lifting Samsung Electronics and SK hynix earnings and prompting large 2026 capex. Tight supply and sharply rising DRAM contract prices could raise input costs for global electronics, while boosting Korea’s export revenues and supplier investment opportunities across equipment and materials.

Textile rebound but cost competitiveness

Textile exports rebounded to a four-year high in January 2026 ($1.74bn, +28% YoY), helped by lower industrial power tariffs. Sustainability depends on input costs, logistics efficiency, and upgrading product mix as competitors gain better market access and buyers demand faster, cleaner production.

Giga-project recalibration and procurement risk

Vision 2030 mega-developments exceed $1 trillion planned value, but timelines and scope are being recalibrated as oil prices soften and execution scrutiny rises. About $115bn in contracts have been awarded since 2019, yet suppliers face more selective, longer procurement cycles.

Trade compliance and reputational exposure

Scrutiny of settlement-linked trade and corporate due diligence is intensifying, including EU labeling and potential restrictions. Companies face heightened sanctions, customs, and reputational risks across logistics, retail, and manufacturing, requiring enhanced screening, traceability, and legal review.

Ports and rail capacity recovery

Transnet is improving but remains a major supply-chain risk. Freight volumes rose to ~160.1Mt with revenue ~R42.7bn (+9.2%); coal exports via Richards Bay hit ~57.7Mt in 2025 (+11%). Yet Cape Town port backlogs can strand ~R1bn fruit shipments.

EU CEPA nearing completion

IEU‑CEPA negotiations have entered legal scrubbing, with completion targeted May 2026 and implementation aimed for January 2027. Indonesia expects up to 98% tariff-line elimination (around 90% duty‑free both ways), boosting EU-linked manufacturing, services, and investment planning.

Minerales críticos y control estatal

México y EE. UU. acordaron un plan sobre minerales críticos y exploran un arreglo multilateral con UE, Japón y Canadá. La inclusión del litio choca con la reserva estatal mexicana, aumentando incertidumbre para JV, permisos y contenido regional en baterías, automotriz y electrónica.

Tighter liquidity, shifting finance rules

Interbank rates spiked to ~16–17% before easing, reflecting periodic VND liquidity stress. Plans to test removing credit quotas by 2026 and adopt Basel III buffers (to 10.5% by 2030) may constrain weaker banks, tighten financing and widen funding costs for corporates.

Secondary pressure on Iran trade

Expanded maximum-pressure measures—new sanctions on Iran’s oil/petrochemical networks and proposals for broad punitive tariffs on countries trading with Iran—raise exposure for shippers, insurers, banks, and traders, increasing due‑diligence costs and disrupting energy and commodity logistics routes.

Digital and privacy enforcement intensity

France’s CNIL stepped up enforcement, with 2025 sanctions reportedly totaling about €486m, focused on cookies, employee monitoring and data security. Multinationals face higher compliance costs, faster audit cycles, and greater liability for cross‑border data transfers and AI use.

Lieferkettenrecht, Bürokratie, ESG

17 Verbände fordern Aussetzung oder Angleichung des deutschen Lieferkettengesetzes an EU-Recht (EU-Schwelle: >5.000 Beschäftigte und 1,5 Mrd. € Umsatz; DE: ab 1.000 Beschäftigte). Für multinationale Firmen bleibt ESG-Compliance komplex, mit Haftungs-, Audit- und Reportingkosten sowie Reputationsrisiken.

Treasury financing and dollar volatility

Large U.S. debt issuance and signs of softer foreign Treasury demand are steepening the yield curve and adding FX uncertainty. Higher funding costs can tighten credit conditions, affect valuations, and alter hedging needs for importers, exporters, and cross-border investors.

Carbon competitiveness policy uncertainty

Industrial carbon pricing (OBPS and provincial systems) remains central to decarbonization incentives, but is politically contested. Potential policy shifts create uncertainty for long-horizon projects in steel, cement, oil and gas, and clean tech, affecting capex, compliance costs, and supply contracts.

Treasury market liquidity drains

Large Treasury settlements and heavy auction calendars can pull cash onto dealer balance sheets, reducing liquidity elsewhere. Tightened repo and margin dynamics raise volatility across risk assets, complicate collateral management, and increase the chance of disruptive funding squeezes for corporates.

Reopening travel, visa facilitation

Large rises in cross-border trips and wider visa-free/extended transit policies (including UK visa-free plans) improve commercial mobility and service trade. However, implementation details and reciprocity remain variable, requiring firms to plan for compliance, documentation, and policy reversals.

Macroprudential tightening hits credit

BDDK and the central bank tightened consumer and FX-credit rules: card limits must align with documented income, unused high limits can be reduced, restructuring is capped, and FX-loan growth limits were cut to 0.5% over eight weeks. Expect tighter liquidity and financing.

Industrial policy reshapes investment

CHIPS/IRA-style incentives and local-content rules steer capex toward U.S. manufacturing, batteries, and clean tech, while raising compliance complexity for multinationals. Subsidies can improve U.S. project economics, but may trigger trade frictions, retaliation, and fragmented global production strategies.

Ports, corridors, and logistics buildout

Cairo is rolling out seven multimodal trade corridors, 70 km of new deep-water berths, and a network targeting 33 dry ports. New financing such as the $200m Safaga terminal (with $115m arranged) supports capacity, inland clearance, and supply-chain resilience.