Global Scans · Standards · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Improving standards are likely to be driven more by business and technological improvement than governments in the future. The latter will be under severe pressure to cut bureaucracy, speed policy making and improve their nation's productivity performance.

• [New] The QSN will coordinate standards across quantum computing, sensing, and related technologies, with the goal of helping U.K. companies develop products that meet internationally recognized standards and strengthening the United Kingdom's influence in global quantum standard-setting. QED-C
• [New] The QSN will help UK companies develop products to internationally recognised standards, accelerating adoption and supporting sectors such as healthcare, transport, and finance. UKAuthority
• [New] In 2026, trading carbon credits between countries will get easier because new international rules under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will introduce common standards for how credits are created, tracked, and exchanged. ""
• [New] The costs of administering complex data-protection rules, say, could easily be absorbed by a Google or OpenAI, with their hordes of compliance staff. Techdirt
• [New] Having a European production base does more than circumvent the EU's tariff regime on Chinese-made EVs; it could help insulate Polestar from the US' connected vehicle rules and EU import tariffs on Chinese-made vehicle. Automotive World
• [New] In 2026 the global picture splits into three postures: the EU's binding, risk-tiered law; a US federal approach favoring light-touch rules and preemption of state law; and active US state legislation filling the federal gap. Collibra
• [New] As early as this week, the White House will roll out voluntary standards for the release of new models that would set benchmarks for models with cutting-edge cyber capabilities and establish release timelines in an effort to streamline future launches. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] If global actors can build on U.S. chips, clouds, models, cybersecurity standards, and applications, the United States will lead in across ecosystem as well. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] Europe is rewriting its public procurement rules in 2026, giving it the opportunity to create a common standard for policies, specifically surrounding green medicine. MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
• [New] Leading Communication & Behavioral Therapy: Applied Behaviour Analysis is expected to lead, accounting for approximately 59% share in 2026 through standardized clinical adoption, validated outcome tracking, integrated digital platforms, and high-value pediatric applications. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Allies need to know whether U.S. rules will be predictable enough to build local AI capacity around American chips. Educational Technology and Change Journal
• [New] The CLARITY Act reached the Senate floor calendar with a July vote target according to CoinDesk, and five US regulators proposed stablecoin rules under the GENIUS Act that could reshape crypto for the rest of the decade. TechBullion
• [New] If U.S. policymakers believe that China's military-civil fusion can convert commercial compute into state power, then they will keep tightening export rules. Educational Technology and Change Journal
• [New] The benefits of AI are worth the moral ambiguity it engenders will remain center stage. Engadget
• [New] Indiana's rules are designed to balance opportunity with fairness, and they are especially strict when a move appears connected to athletics. TFD Supplies
• [New] Global marketers should expect further divergence among regional AI ecosystems, vendors, data rules, and technology stacks. MarketingProfs
• [New] The Sound Science Act of 2026, S. 4397, would increase EPA's obligations during the risk evaluation process, revise chemical testing requirements, promote consistency with OSHA standards, and expand judicial review. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] The European Banking Authority is set to publish the finalised draft of the updated Implementing Technical Standards which will simplify reporting requirements, reducing ESG risk-related data points by 37% for large institutions. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] NASA's TSIS-2 (Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2) mission will see a single satellite launched by Electron to conduct Sun-Earth energy science. Rocket Lab
• [New] The UK is preparing mandatory due diligence rules to stop forest-risk commodities linked to illegal deforestation from entering the UK's food and consumer goods supply chains. CNS Media
• [New] By formally defining standards for emerging minor oils, India is improving traceability, reducing contamination risks, and supporting CPG innovation. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Although blockchain technology is still in infancy stage, the emergence of new initiatives like the Energy Web Foundation, will help to speed up standards and create shared design between public and private companies. World Energy Council
• [New] If the world is going to run on blockchain, much of it will rely on smart contracts to execute the data exchanges and program in rules to govern how each code-triggered agreement works. World Energy Council

Last updated: 16 July 2026