Tariffs fuel push away from US

Rest of the world becoming stronger via new supply chains, alliances, experts say

The United States' tariffs on European Union imports — potentially up to 30 percent from Aug 1 — will push countries and companies to diversify their supply chains and seek non-US markets rather than inclining toward the US, according to trade experts.

Cameron Johnson, an affiliate of the Lau China Institute, King's College London, and a senior partner at Tidalwave Solutions, a consulting firm based in Shanghai, cautioned that steep US tariffs could redirect global trade flows.

"If the 30 percent goes through, this essentially gives Asian, African and European supply chains to China, because people will want to go somewhere else for materials and markets," said Johnson, an expert on China's economy and industry with over 25 years of experience in supply chains.