Policies meant to 'bring manufacturing home' are actually making the world more globalized than ever.
April 15, 2026
Original Paper
Structural Consequences of Policy-Based Interventions on the Global Supply Chain Network
arXiv · 2604.11479
The Takeaway
Friendshoring is the new trend where countries try to only trade with their allies to avoid 'adversaries' like China. But this paper shows that these policies are actually increasing globalization by expanding the number of supply links across friendly nations. Instead of shrinking the network, they are weaving it tighter and expanding it into new regions. For us, this means 'de-globalization' is a myth; we’re just building a more tangled and complex web of connections under a different name. Our economies are becoming more interdependent, not less.
From the abstract
As global political tensions rise and the anticipation of additional tariffs from the United States on international trade increases, the issues of economic independence and supply chain resilience become more prominent. The importance of supply chain resilience has been further underscored by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine. In light of these challenges, ranging from geopolitical instability to product supply uncertainties, governments are increasingly