Manufacturing Expansion: Kubota North America is expanding construction equipment manufacturing at its Great Plains Manufacturing unit in Salina, Kansas, adding a mixed-model line to assemble the SVL75-3 compact track loader alongside the SVL65-2 to boost output and shorten delivery times for dealers and customers. Trade Policy Shock (Canada): Trump paused planned 50% tariffs on about $20B of Canadian goods for three days after last-minute talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney, citing a pending deal and pointing to possible Keystone XL revival—an abrupt reprieve that matters for cross-border auto, metals, dairy, and industrial supply chains. Energy Storage Manufacturing: LG Energy Solution began full operations at its Lansing, Michigan battery plant, completing a North America ESS hub buildout and targeting 35+ GWh annual capacity with both LFP (for grid and AI data centers) and NCM (for EVs). Robotics Capital Markets: China’s Unitree surged in its Shanghai debut, underscoring how fast humanoid robot manufacturing is scaling in China—even as analysts note many deployments remain demo-focused. AR Tech M&A: TDK acquired assets from Germany’s OQmented to strengthen MEMS-based laser scanning and AR display tech for smart glasses, aiming for more vertically integrated “light engine” systems. Industrial Safety: Two workers died after explosions and a major fire at Brent Industries’ recycling building in Toledo, Ohio, prompting a large hazardous-materials response. R&D Awards: DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory won multiple 2026 R&D 100 Awards, highlighting advances in materials, manufacturing, recycling, and quantum networking.