Canada-China Trade Agreement Formed; Civil Unrest in Minneapolis

Lead: Canada and China reached a trade agreement to lower tariffs on electric vehicles and agriculture, while clashes broke out in Minneapolis following a non-fatal shooting involving a federal agent. These developments coincide with Meta’s move to exit the enterprise VR market and Nvidia’s valuation reaching a new financial threshold.

What we know

• Canada and China established an initial trade deal to reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, aimed at resetting bilateral relations according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. SOURCE
• A federal agent shot and wounded a man in Minneapolis on January 15 after an alleged assault on the officer, sparking confrontations between protesters and police. SOURCE
• Meta is sunsetting its "Quest for Business" program by 2030, with commercial SKU sales ending next month and existing subscription fees dropping to $0. SOURCE
• Texas A&M University canceled a course after a professor reportedly declined to submit syllabus information for review under the school’s new race and gender policy. SOURCE
• Nvidia’s market valuation reached $5 trillion, the first company to do so, amid sustained demand for AI-processing hardware. SOURCE
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) updated rules for the Small Business Investment Company program, which oversaw $53 billion in capital in 2025. SOURCE
• A Turkish Airlines flight conducted an emergency landing after a passenger created a Wi-Fi hotspot named "bomb threat," leading to an escort by fighter jets. SOURCE
• Data shows more than 3 million small-business employees in the U.S. missed at least one paycheck in 2024 due to cash flow constraints. SOURCE

What we don’t know yet

• The identity of the individual shot by the federal agent in Minneapolis and the specific evidence regarding the alleged assault on the officer have not been disclosed.
• Confirmed release dates and manufacturing schedules for foldable devices showcased at CES 2026 remain unavailable from major tech hardware providers.
• The full list of Dallas-Fort Worth businesses allegedly connected to the Patriot Front group has not been released.
• The degree to which Nvidia's valuation is sustained by "circular financing" models within the AI industry is currently unverified.

Why it matters

• Market access: The Canada-China agreement lowers trade barriers for the electric vehicle and agricultural sectors, impacting cross-Pacific supply chains.
• Public safety: Civil unrest in Minneapolis may persist following two separate shootings involving federal personnel within a two-week period.
• Enterprise technology: Meta’s withdrawal from commercial VR forces corporate users to reassess hardware providers for training and virtual collaboration.
• Economic stability: Incidences of missed payroll at small businesses indicate liquidity pressure affecting millions of U.S. households.

What’s next

• Colorado legislators are scheduled to begin a four-month session to codify policies following Governor Jared Polis’s final State of the State address.
• Meta will halt all sales of Quest for Business commercial SKUs starting in February 2026.
• Credo Technology Group is expected to release new data on AI connectivity at the upcoming Needham Growth Conference.
• Investigations in Texas regarding business associations with extremist groups are expected to continue.
• Public attention remains on Rockstar Games for updates regarding the development of the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise.