From efficiency to safety

Global supply chain adjustments after the COVID-19 outbreak were most probably triggered by the following two fuses: localized production of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and protective supplies;and escalating suppression by the United States on China’s high-tech industry and enterprises. However, since the United States may continuously develop new technologies and new products to increase its economic efficiency, damages to US trade caused by later-developing countries may be outweighed by its trade benefits. It may be seen that with the spread of the pandemic, its impact on the global supply chain has been escalating gradually from short-term impact to long-term impact. On the one hand, these geographically adjacent countries could increase economic efficiency of the supply chain;on the other hand, the United States and Europe, as industrial powers, will have very strong political influence on those countries to which they moved their factories, so as to secure supply chain security. © 2021 selection and editorial matter, Cai Fang.