Exploring the Impact of Geopolitics on Asian Manufacturing and Global Supply Chains with TITOMA's Case Engelen

EMS@C-LEVEL · 6 Oct 2023 · 18m

What this episode covers

Case Engelen of TITOMA explains how geopolitical tensions and the 25% US import tax on Chinese goods are forcing a shift in manufacturing footprints, moving final assembly and SMT to Taiwan to avoid tariffs while keeping components sourced from China. He discusses the challenges of 'decoupling,' noting that while countries like Vietnam, Mexico, and India are beneficiaries, they lack the deep supply chain infrastructure of China, making relocation difficult and often more expensive. Engelen highlights TITOMA's specific expansion into Colombia, leveraging a bilateral trade pact to serve the US market, and emphasizes the importance of scenario planning and 'friend-shoring' to mitigate supply chain risks for clients.

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