Global Scans · Canada · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The U.S. and Canada's new governments will have their work cut out dealing with potential changes to their trade agreements while simultaneously Canada will be anxious to implement CETA with the EU.

• [New] What's needed is a clear roadmap to accelerate Canada's leadership, bearing in mind that building affordable EVs will be essential, particularly to compete with lower-cost models from foreign manufacturers, as will significant investment in a robust charging infrastructure. CNW Group
• [New] With all the turmoil in the auto sector, Canada has a real opportunity to invest at home and diversify into EV battery production to protect jobs, attract investment, and build long-term resilience. CNW Group
• [New] Ottawa will now require the use of Canadian-produced steel, aluminum, and wood products in federal construction and defence projects. Aluminum Market Update
• [New] Canada will develop its own defence industry and source critical weaponry from elsewhere. Policy Magazine
• [New] Canadian fertilizer could be hit with significant tariffs in the future. DTN Progressive Farmer
• [New] Total greenhouse gas emissions from Canada's oil and gas sector continue to grow as production increases, and Canada is not expected to reach its target of cutting greenhouse gas output by 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Al Jazeera
• [New] In 2026, the sharpest growth in BEV deployment is expected in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Chile, where national policies, renewable-energy availability and strong miner-OEM collaboration are creating conducive adoption environments. Mining Technology
• [New] Trade policy remains a critical piece of Canada's economy heading into 2026, as the current CUSMA is set for review. Global News
• [New] The United States will likely seek major concessions from Canada, and it's hard to know what the federal government would be prepared to give up in order to achieve a deal with the United States that could be broken at any moment. CCPA
• [New] The disputes Canada faces could spill out of the economic realm, involving political or security demands that would have been unthinkable under previous frameworks. The Globe and Mail
• [New] Canada could become a world leader in electric vehicles, in a bid to reduce its reliance on the U.S. auto industry. CK News Today
• [New] Stresses are accumulating and 2026 is likely to include new attacks on Canadian manufacturing sectors from the Trump administration. CCPA
• [New] For Canada, contingency planning must begin for the possibility that other Canadian exports could be subjected to the tariffs now applied on steel and aluminum, forest products and autos. Policy Magazine
• [New] International partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada may update their travel advisories to reflect the elevated risk of civil unrest and extremist violence. On Call International Blog
• [New] Canada selects Ottawa-Montreal as first phase of its inaugural high-speed rail network, with construction from 2029 and nationwide consultations beginning in 2026. Global Railway Review
• [New] When Kia launches its newest EV, the EV4 sedan in 2026, it will be the least expensive EV on sale in Canada. Canadian Black Book
• [New] The 2026 Kia EV4 will be the cheapest EV in Canada when it goes on sale. The Change Optimist
• [New] Rio Tinto's gallium project, leveraging Canadian operations and U.S. innovation partners, will meet total U.S. demand for a material currently dominated by Russia. FGS Global
• [New] We see P.E.I.'s economy faring better than the Canadian average with GDP expected to increase by 1.2% for 2026. BDC.ca
• [New] Real GDP growth, projected to be 1.2% for 2025, will slow to 1% in 2026. / Canada BDC.ca
• [New] In 2026, we expect the Canadian economy to remain resilient, producing modest growth overall. BDC.ca

Last updated: 31 December 2025