The second week of February 2026 marks a historic turning point in the world of finance, business, and technology. We now live in an era where technology is no longer merely a tool, but the primary driver of the economy, jobs, and even public health. In this report, we delve into how Washington's trade decisions have reshaped supply chains and how major technology companies are preparing to impose a new reality through artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
International Trade Shockwaves and The Potential Collapse of USMCA
The announcement by the US administration of its intention to withdraw from the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada (USMCA) came as a shock to the global business community. This agreement, which regulated billions of dollars in trade annually, is now in jeopardy, creating uncertainty among investors.
Impact on the Automotive and Manufacturing Sectors
Mexico and Canada are integral parts of the US automotive supply chain. Withdrawal means the imposition of tariffs that could reach 25%, which will lead to:
- A 15% to 20% increase in car prices in the US market.
- Manufacturers are forced to relocate production lines to the United States, a process requiring massive investments that will take years.
- The competitiveness of American cars in global markets has declined due to rising production costs.
Foreign investment is being repositioned. Investors who once viewed Mexico as a "backyard factory" for the United States began withdrawing their capital this week, directing it towards alternative markets such as Vietnam and India, or even reinvesting it in US bonds, which are experiencing rising yields due to the prevailing economic uncertainty.
The Era of "Pervasive Artificial Intelligence" and Samsung's 2026 Event
In the technology sector, the world awaited the unveiling this week of a new generation of smart devices that not only run artificial intelligence applications but are integrated with them.
The Galaxy AI Revolution and Computational Capabilities
Samsung announced its new phones featuring Neural Processing Units (NPUs) with capabilities exceeding those available in laptops just two years ago. New features include:
- AI-powered cybersecurity: The phone's ability to detect and block hacking attempts in real time before they reach the operating system.
- Personal Investment Management: Integrating a smart assistant that analyzes the user's financial portfolio and provides buy and sell advice based on real-time global market news.
- Real-Time Neural Translation: Translation not only of words but also of tone of voice and accompanying emotions in international calls, opening new horizons for cross-border business.
Cybersecurity in the Face of Quantum Threats
As 2026 begins, cybersecurity has entered a critical phase. This week saw the first serious attempts to use quantum computing to break traditional encryption protocols.
Upgrading Banking Systems
Major global banks announced investments of $12 billion this week to upgrade their cyber infrastructure to post-quantum cryptography. This investment is essential to protect depositor data and international financial transaction records from future breaches that could cripple the global economy in seconds.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity no longer relies solely on traditional firewalls. Instead, it now depends on proactive machine learning systems that predict zero-day vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by hackers. Companies that invested in these systems this week saw their stock prices stabilize despite the market volatility.
The Future of Jobs and the “Skills-Change” Economy
The International Labour Organization (ILO) released a report this week indicating that 40% of current jobs will require “radical retraining” by the end of 2026.
The Most In-Demand Jobs in February 2026
A new list of highly sought-after specializations has emerged:
- Supply Chain Sustainability Engineers: To address disruptions to international trade.
- AI Ethicists: To ensure that technology systems are not biased in hiring and insurance decisions.
- Remote Work Consultants in Metaverse: As meetings and training move entirely to virtual environments.
The Retail Employment Crisis
On the other hand, the expansion of autonomous retail has led to the loss of thousands of traditional retail jobs, prompting governments to discuss the idea of a "universal basic income" or taxing robots to fund retraining programs.
A Medical Breakthrough in Diabetes Treatment
This week saw a groundbreaking scientific announcement from research laboratories in Switzerland and the United States regarding the success of Phase III trials of "programmed stem cells" for treating type 1 diabetes.
The Revolution in Personalized Medicine
This treatment relies on engineering the patient's own cells to produce insulin naturally, ending the era of daily injections. It is predicted that this innovation will reduce global healthcare costs by 10% in the long term and provide significant savings for health insurance companies, which have already begun repricing their policies based on this data.
Biotechnology and National Security
Biotechnology has become part of national security strategies, with countries this week rushing to sign intellectual property protection agreements in the field of genomics, fearing the use of these technologies in the development of biological weapons or illicit genetic enhancements.
The Return of Supersonic Flights
After years of waiting, the first commercial flight of the supersonic aircraft “Overture” completed a successful test flight between New York and London in under 3.5 hours.
Luxury Tourism and Sustainable Travel
This achievement opens a new door for luxury tourism, but it also presents the aviation sector with a challenge regarding emissions. Airlines invested heavily this week in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to avoid the harsh carbon taxes that Europe has begun to rigorously implement.
Digitalizing Borders and Biometric Passports
This week, Dubai and Singapore airports fully implemented contactless systems, where passengers are identified via iris and facial recognition without the need for any paper documents. This reduced waiting times by 80% and made the travel experience smoother and safer.
The Rise of “Strategic Metals”
Gold and oil are no longer the sole drivers of the market. This week, lithium, cobalt, and neodymium metals reached record highs.
The Chip War and Electric Vehicles
The struggle for these metals is a struggle for the future of energy. China, which controls a large portion of the processing of these metals, hinted this week at the possibility of restricting exports in response to US tariffs, prompting investors to flee to mining stocks in Australia and Canada.
Stablecoins
With traditional currencies (the Mexican peso and the Canadian dollar) fluctuating, cryptocurrencies linked to gold and commodities have seen significant demand as a safe haven for value, away from the volatility of US monetary policy.
Sports Science: Data-Enhanced Performance
With the major tournaments approaching in 2026, sports science has entered a new era of precision.
Smart Shirts and Vital Signs
Major European clubs have begun using smart shirts equipped with sensors that accurately measure muscle lactic acid levels and heart rate during training. This data is analyzed immediately by artificial intelligence to predict injuries up to 48 hours in advance, thus preserving the market value of players, which can reach hundreds of millions.
Esports as an Institutional Investment
Esports is no longer just a pastime. This week saw massive acquisitions of esports teams by sovereign wealth funds, with expectations that the sector's returns will surpass those of traditional sports in some Asian markets by the end of the year.
Sustainability and the Environment: Investment for Tomorrow
With climate change regulations being rolled back in Washington, the global private sector has stepped in to take the lead.
Green Bonds and Carbon Credits
Despite political trends, green bonds saw $50 billion in issuances this week from European and Asian companies. Investors recognize that the transition to clean energy is an economic necessity for reducing long-term operating costs, not just a moral obligation.
Carbon Capture Technology
This week saw the emergence of startups offering technologies to convert carbon captured from the atmosphere into solid building materials. This has attracted significant investments from cement, iron, and steel giants seeking to achieve net-zero emissions profitably.
Summary and Predictions for the Future of Business 2026
The landscape painted by the second week of February 2026 confirms that the world is undergoing a comprehensive "reset." The trade challenges imposed by the US administration have pushed the rest of the world toward greater technological integration and the search for stable investment alternatives.
Advice for Investors and Companies:
- Geographic Diversification: Do not place all your investments in a region dependent on threatened trade agreements.
- Investing in Cybersecurity: It is the only guarantee of business continuity in the age of quantum computing.
- Adopting Generative AI: Not as a luxury, but as a tool to increase productivity and address the shortage of skilled labor.
The convergence of science, technology, and the economy is now stronger than ever. Those who can understand and adapt to these rapid transformations will be the biggest winners in the new global economy.
