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International business news this morning featured a pair of significant stories: a boost for the UK's artificial intelligence ambitions and a significant increase in global trade disputes.

Google DeepMind's Automated Research Laboratory

Google DeepMind has announced intentions to construct its inaugural “automated science laboratory” in the UK. This decision is seen as a boost to the country's AI ambitions.

The lab will be primarily dedicated to advanced materials discovery. It will utilize “advanced robotics” to create and analyze hundreds of substances per day. The main aim is to significantly reduce the timeline for discovering transformative new materials.

The company explained that the lab, scheduled to be built in the year 2026, will “supercharge scientific discovery”. They elaborated:

Identifying new materials is a crucial endeavors in scientific research, which could lead to lower expenses and unlock completely novel technologies.

As an illustration, materials that conduct electricity without resistance that operate at ambient temperature and pressure could allow for low cost medical imaging and minimize energy loss in power networks. New substances could assist in addressing critical energy challenges by unlocking next-generation batteries, more efficient photovoltaic cells and higher-performance semiconductors.

This initiative is one element in a deeper partnership with the British government. Under the agreement, British researchers will get special access to several advanced AI models for research purposes.

Mexico's Trade Move

In a separate development, international trade frictions intensified today after the Mexican Senate passed increased import duties of up to 50% starting in 2026 on goods from China and a number of other Asian countries.

These tariffs are intended to strengthen local industry. They will apply new tariffs of as much as 50% from 2026 on certain products such as automobiles, vehicle components, textiles, apparel, plastic goods and steel products.

The measures will affect imports from countries without trade deals with Mexico, such as China, India, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. The majority of affected goods will face tariffs of around thirty-five percent.

China's Ministry of Commerce has called out the decision, urging Mexico to correct “one-sided, protectionist practices” as soon as possible.

Additional Market News

Moscow's energy export revenues have hit their lowest level since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. A global energy watchdog reported that exports fell again in November due to reduced export volumes and lower market prices.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the Swiss National Bank has left its key policy rate unchanged at zero percent. The bank pointed to inflation that was somewhat softer than expected, but noted that medium-term price pressures remained virtually unchanged.

Technology stocks faced pressure following disappointing earnings from the software giant Oracle. The company's stock fell sharply in extended trading after it missed revenue and profit expectations and increased its spending outlook for artificial intelligence infrastructure. The news raised concerns about the financial returns of heavy AI investments.