North America: Latest analysis, insights and developments from the World Economic Forum

As preparations proceed for the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the relationship between the world’s two largest economies has been impacted by a particularly volatile global context.

To explore where US–China cooperation is still possible, we asked five experts to examine the practical areas that are mutually beneficial and could offer stability to the global economy.

Cities are home to a growing majority of the world’s population, generate most of the world’s emissions and economic output, and are central to addressing global challenges.

Yes/Cities, created by the World Economic Forum – after a successful pilot in San Francisco in collaboration with Citi, Deloitte, Salesforce, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and more than 20 organizations – is a global initiative that mobilises investment to unlock local innovation ecosystems and economic opportunity.

Many athletes face complex contracts, taxes and sudden income without the knowledge to manage them effectively, making financial literacy critical, write American football stars Larry Fitzgerald Jr and Kelvin Beachum Jr.

Universities and governing bodies need to embed mandatory financial and life-skills training to ensure long-term athlete wellbeing, the athletes argue.

In an economic landscape shaped by volatility, uncertainty and inflation concerns, two retirement trends in the United States highlight a complex story about how Americans are managing their long-term financial security.

On one hand, retirement account balances are rising at a healthy pace, according to recent reports, and many workers are maintaining strong contribution rates despite market swings. On the other, an increasing number of Americans are tapping their retirement savings to cope with financial hardship.

In a special address at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the end of the rules-based international order and outlined how Canada was adapting by building strategic autonomy while maintaining values like human rights and sovereignty.

In another special address at Davos 2026, US President Donald Trump spoke about economic growth, immigration and conflict, saying that the US "won't use force" in an attempt to acquire Greenland.

What’s shaping North America right now? Drawing on the World Economic Forum’s network of leaders and experts, this tracker curates the latest insights, data and analysis from and on the region to help make sense of the news.