Experts seek 'supply chain diplomacy'

Interconnection, not decoupling, seen as more effective to reduce conflict risk

The interconnected supply chains between the United States and China have contributed significantly to reducing inflation, and it's time to collaborate transparently on shaping future supply chains, said experts at a seminar.

The networks of supply chains not only support commerce but also play a crucial role in international diplomacy. However, global supply chains have been facing the most severe shortages in 50 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions.

"We are aware that the supply chains that connect the US and China have been a large part of the reason for inflation, a word that hasn't been used since 1997 till 2018," John Kent, a professor at the University of Arkansas, said at the recent webinar titled "The US, China, and Supply Chain Diplomacy".