Impact of Tariffs on Global Supply Chain Network Configuration: Models, Predictions, and Future Research

The past three decades have witnessed tremendous growth of supply chain activities around the globe thanks to the lowered trade barriers and free trade agreements among countries. The global supply chain management literature developed during this time provided theoretical frameworks and decision support tools for operational and supply chain decisions in the global context. Recent development in trade barrier debates as well as increasing uncertainties in countries’ trade policies have forced companies to rethink their global operational strategies. In this short paper, we draw insights from the existing global supply chain literature and in particular, focus on interpreting recent research contributions published in Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (M&SOM) on the topic to gain understanding of the implications of trade policies, especially tariffs, for firms’ global facility network design decisions. We also provide a discussion of important dimensions that were absent from the existing literature but are pertinent to providing a richer understanding of implications of trade policies for today’s interconnected supply chains. Future research that takes into consideration those previously less explored dimensions has the potential to offer insights not only to industry practitioners but also, to the policy makers. Developing an appreciation of potential reactions from complex connected supply chains in various industries would help policy makers better anticipate the impact of trade policy change.