Strategic decoupling, selective decoupling or recoupling of global supply chains in manufacturing GPNs during the post-COVID-19 era

This chapter examines the resilience of the global supply chains and the possible implications for manufacturing in the post-pandemic era. Partly due to the (path-)dependency of complex and highly embedded global supply chains, I argue that there could be an orderly selective decoupling and recoupling of the global production networks of certain manufacturing sectors rather than a full strategic decoupling from China. Instead of focusing on the power relationships between global lead firms and their strategically coupled suppliers as in the conventional global production network (GPN) analysis, the emerging industrial megatrends during the pre-pandemic era demonstrate that one of the research focuses could be their (shifting) competitive dynamics. Given the importance of China for global manufacturing supply chains and stringent Chinese COVID-19 quarantine policies, I suggest future research can/should reframe/highlight the roles of geopolitics, especially the intersection between (local) politics and public health regarding supply chains security.