1、10 KEY THEMES GLOBAL ANTITRUSTClarity in antitrustInsights that bring focus to the defining competition challenges of 2026IntroductionIn 2025,global antitrust entered an era defined by significant governmental and agency changes against a backdrop of technological,economic and political upheaval.Com
2、petition law became an instrument of industrial policy and geopolitical strategy,with regulators recalibrating their approaches amid shifting national priorities trends we highlighted in our last edition.2026 takes these developments even further.The lines between competition law and industrial poli
3、cy have become more blurred,as governments and agencies have ushered in new priorities:economic growth,resilience,labor markets and technological competitiveness.Antitrust globally serves as a lens through which broader economic and geopolitical forces are now viewed.This policy-driven enforcement i
4、s reframing the rules,as governments deploy antitrust and foreign direct investment tools in pursuit of broader strategic interests.The pace of change is unforgiving.Unlocking opportunities and minimizing risk in this years antitrust landscape requires anticipation,precision and the ability to conve
5、rt regulatory flux into competitive advantage.Freshfields cross-market vantage point distills these developments into the 10 key themes to watch in 2026:Geopolitics and dealmaking.Dealmakers who can show how their transactions align with evolving policy goals are better positioned to navigate comple
6、x merger review and an expanding field of unpredictable jurisdictional triggers.With regulators embracing a broader mix of remedies,dealmakers proposing creative,well-evidenced solutions early have a real chance to unlock approvals.Foreign direct investment scrutiny is intensifying,with attention sh