Global Scans · Government · Weekly Summary

• [New] The U.S. government has implemented a set of policies to address critical minerals vulnerabilities, particularly for national security and defence applications (e.g., weapons systems, batteries, magnets, and electronics). Actionable Intelligence Alert
• [New] U.S. trade policy towards Mexico is a key risk factor; additional U.S. trade restrictions could warrant additional monetary support. FocusEconomics
• [New] Government Agencies is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 13.66% from 2026 to 2033 driven by increasing adoption of autonomous systems, funding for research programs, and expanded roles in surveillance, reconnaissance, and national security operations. GlobeNewswire
• [New] Washington, for its part, will eliminate reciprocal tariffs on 1,675 Argentine products, Argentina's Foreign Ministry said, increasing government export revenue by $1 billion. NPR
• [New] The UK government announced a major expansion of its national skills strategy, setting a target to upskill 10 million adults in AI skills and competencies by 2030. Fladgates Services Limited
• [New] A global plastics treaty could eventually provide a binding policy and framework for all key players, but without it we can not stall progress. Site name
• [New] Strategic planning, diversification, and coordinated policy responses are essential to mitigate risks and ensure resilience in the face of global economic pressures. The Britain News Journal
• [New] The Australian government has been urged to come clean on security threats posed by climate change following the release of a troubling UK assessment. TrueNorth Weekday Independent News Update
• [New] Uncertainties around US trade policy - including the impending expiration of the trade truce with China and the future of trade agreements with Canada and Mexico, which are set for review in 2026 - exacerbate risks to the economic outlook. African Business
• [New] The UK's government has committed to ambitious renewable energy targets, with a clear roadmap to reach 45-47 GW of solar capacity by 2030. energygain.co.uk
• [New] The U.S. government recently forced a pivotal mandate for quantum-resistant hardware after realizing legacy encryption is failing faster than expected against next-gen decryption threats. Toronto Star
• [New] If major OEMs begin sourcing Chinese memory for certain markets, it could reshape vendor leverage, trigger policy scrutiny, and complicate compliance for companies selling across the US, Europe, and Asia. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] The European community must demand an end to the policy of double standards: nuclear safety cannot be a subject of political compromise when Central Europe risks becoming a new exclusion zone. / Russia Robert Lansing Institute
• [New] Europe's collective ability to deter or defeat aggression on NATO's eastern flank will hinge on fielding critical indigenous capabilities and streamlining the political decision-making and policy processes necessary to employ them effectively. Belfer Center
• [New] Many commercial agents are operating in a policy vacuum, despite longstanding expectations that commercial buildings could be required to meet an EPC rating of B by 2030. IFA Magazine
• [New] With fragile global supply chains and the risk of retaliatory or escalating trade measures growing, organizations like the CBI will need to work hand in glove with government to ensure businesses are supported to manage short-term shocks. CBI
• [New] In 2026, companies should assume the federal government will increasingly treat critical minerals not as a narrow mining topic, but as an integrated industrial system - mining, processing, refining, recycling, and downstream manufacturing. Mondaq
• [New] A new government will likely continue to normalise ties with Islamabad without undermining relations with New Delhi. Space War
• [New] Recent trade truces and signs of posturing, rather than escalation, in US policy settings have been welcome developments, yet most fund managers remain reluctant to position portfolios around geopolitical shifts, which are inherently unpredictable. Morningstar
• [New] Without confronting who pays, under what conditions, and with what consequences for policy autonomy, global goals risk once again becoming aspirational commitments detached from material possibility. OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION ( ORF )
• [New] A participant may be heavily exposed to digital asset ecosystem coins but anticipates a shift in central bank policy that could negatively impact global equities. Phemex
• Since 2023, the federal government has introduced policies to force a shift towards EVs as one element of its net-zero emissions by 2050 plan. Fraser Institute
• Downside risks abound: an AI boom or crash, China's property and debt problems, fiscal stress, and weakening policy credibility. semiwiki

Last updated: 11 February 2026