The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that heading into 2026, the outlook for cross-border mergers and acquisitions is heating up, despite (or because of) Canada's chilly trade relationship with the United States. The Globe's Andrew Willis writes that in the coming year, business leaders in virtually every sector will continue to bulk up by acquiring U.S. companies. In everything from tech to food, the playbook is to better compete for customers in the world's largest economy by owning factories in the U.S. In the mining, energy and lumber sectors, there are expectations of continued domestic M&A to build larger, lower-cost producers that send resources to both the U.S. and Asian markets. Bankers expect to see more deals next year that look like the December takeover staged by Premium Brands. The Vancouver food processor made one of its largest deals to date by paying $662.5-million (U.S.) for Stampede Culinary Partners. George Paleologou, chief executive officer, made it clear the company's strategy is to be a U.S. market leader in prepared meats. Key to the takeover was Premier Brands's $322-million (U.S.) stock sale in public markets and another $170-million (U.S.) of equity sold to two fund managers.