Global Scans · USA · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Donald Trump's surprise win in the Presidential election mean the world and America can expect prolonged uncertainty as new domestic policies are put in place, different international relationships formed and attitudes change towards current friends and rivals.

• [New] Unlike the phase-out of R - 22 refrigerant in 2020, the AIM Act stipulates a phasing down of high-GWP refrigerants to achieve an 85% reduction of HFCs by 2036. / USA Daikin Applied
• [New] We do not expect the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which enacts the AIM Act, to take any further action on GWP restrictions for residential and commercial HVAC applications in the foreseeable future. Daikin Applied
• [New] Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping's reported order to the Chinese military to be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027 and China's ongoing nuclear buildup have raised U.S. concerns over the prospect of a U.S.-China conflict. Rand Corporation
• [New] The US and Western Europe will lead, accounting for over 70% of global security spending, and Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East & Africa will experience strong growth. fortinet
• [New] U.S. companies with expertise in secure data-sharing systems, privacy tools, and technologies that help systems work together will be in a strong position to partner with Brazilian agencies. amanda.draper@trade.gov
• [New] Jurisdictional complexities extend beyond U.S. laws, with varying risks across European countries; Finland and the Netherlands are noted as safer options. EDB
• [New] Major manufacturing countries like China and the US could see economic losses of 2.7% and 1.8% of their GDP due to supply chain disruptions. CrossDock Insights
• [New] The U.S. is a major exporter of agricultural products, and disruptions in the Mississippi River transport affected the global supply of commodities like soybeans and corn. CrossDock Insights
• [New] The US Intelligence Community has included AI among the areas that could generate national security concerns, especially due to its potential applications in warfare and cyber defence, and its implications for national economic competitiveness. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] North America and China will likely experience the largest economic gains from AI, while developing countries - with lower rates of AI adoption - will register only modest economic increases. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] The AI industry could contribute US$ 15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] China released a national AI development plan in 2017, intended to help make the country the world leader in AI by 2030 and build a national AI industry worth of US$ 150 billion. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] Meeting the energy demands of AI sustainably will require investments in modernizing the U.S. energy grid and integrating renewable energy sources. Peoples Company
• [New] Artificial intelligence is expected to deliver significant benefits to U.S. national security, particularly as its application enhances defence and intelligence capabilities in areas such as surveillance, threat analysis, and the development of advanced smart weapons systems. Futureuae
• [New] North Korea could miscalculate South Korea's independent warfighting capabilities if South Korea and the United States accelerate the wartime OPCON transfer by bypassing evaluation assessments. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] With President Trump resuming support of US arms shipments to Ukraine (largely through NATO allies) including the critically needed Patriot missile defence systems, there is further opportunity for policymakers to bolster Ukraine's defence through regulatory quick wins. Hoover Institution
• As the summer months come to an end, we expect the cooler weather to extend through 2025 with the U.S. averaging 1,430 heating degree days (HDDs) in 4 Q25, 8% more HDDs than in 4 Q24. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• Emissions We forecast U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to increase by 1.6% in 2025, followed by a decrease of around 1.1% in 2026. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• With CTV ad spending projected to hit $33.35 billion in 2025 and 200 million US households now streaming-enabled, the stakes for getting your strategy right have never been higher. AI Digital
• The current media ecosystem presents advertisers with a $343.82 billion opportunity in the United States alone - but only if they know how to navigate it. AI Digital
• The United States is expected to contribute the highest income during the outlook period and will continue to be a major producer of dehydrated food products. Market Data Forecast
• In the United States, coal demand is forecast to grow by around 7%, and in the European Union, it is set to decrease by nearly 2%. IEA
• Currently, 98 million adults in the US have prediabetes, putting them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and forming a critical population for focused prevention efforts. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 20 August 2025