Global trade disrupted: Experts rethink the future of supply chains

In a two-part webinar series, academic and industry leaders explore how an evolving supply chain field impacts sustainability, global interdependence, and public policy.

Researchers, educators, and policymakers play critical roles in shaping national and global supply chains. As shifts in global trade policy raise new questions about the logistics industry's societal and environmental impacts, W. P. Carey's Center for Responsible Supply Chain Management has partnered with the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business for a two-part webinar series. Rewriting the Rules: Global Trade, Sustainability, and Supply Chain Research that explores how the supply chain field responds to global interdependence, informs managerial decisions and public policy, and guides what we teach the next generation of professionals.

The first webinar, streamed June 10, focused on how trade and sustainability challenges are reshaping the supply chain research landscape. The event was moderated by Karen Donohue, professor of supply chain management, W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair, and director of the Center for Responsible Supply Chain Management, alongside Owen Wu, director of research and outreach at Indiana’s institute. It opened with a presentation by Cori Masters, senior director research analyst at Gartner.

Masters discussed changes in sustainability trends as organizations adjust to new supply chain strategies, pointing out that many are not on track to meet net-zero goals. As tariffs and other disruptions impact supply chains, she recommended organizations regularly reassess and realign their goals and processes.

"It's very vital and complex…. Certain commodity- and geography-level tariffs can impact your supply chain network at any point," she said.

Building on Masters' presentation, panelists Jan Fransoo (Tilburg University), Panos Kouvelis (Olin Business School at Washington University), and Christopher Tang (UCLA), discussed the interconnectedness of global trade and how sustainability pressures are reshaping supply chains.

Fransoo suggested that any slowdown in global trade might be regional, as nations such as India and those in Africa rise in influence.

"The world minus U.S. global supply chains… they're still growing. And if you look at the recent statistics of the World Trade Organization, world trade is still growing," he said. "From a research perspective, it’s important not to assume supply chains are deglobalizing."

Fransoo echoed Masters' concern that many organizations are backtracking on sustainability commitments, despite the global rise in renewable energy use.

"Currently, global investments in renewable energy account for two-thirds of all energy investments — up from just 40% a decade ago," said Fransoo.

Kouvelis emphasized the need to revisit supply chain research strategies, citing geopolitical instability, tariffs, and regulatory uncertainty as major business challenges. These risks — along with fluctuations in commodity prices, inflation, interest rates, and currency values — are driving volatility and disrupting supply chains.

"Geopolitics, tariffs, and regulatory uncertainty will cause shortages and disruptions, constrain renewable and other energy sources, and emerging markets may substantially increase carbon emissions," he said.

Tang highlighted the emergence of using the supply chain as a geopolitical tool to interfere with production in other regions, which deviates from past trends of prioritizing a stable and resilient supply chain flow. He explained how emerging technologies like AI and blockchain can help monitor supply chains to identify unusual activities and transportation of illegal items. However, their effectiveness depends on clear data and strong collaboration across supply chain partners.

"Visibility plays a role," said Tang. "The panelists talked about transparency, which is a difficult question. Right now, how do governments and companies work together to get that?"

Each speaker provided compelling insights into today's shifting logistics landscape. One takeaway was clear: The state of uncertainty in supply chains today is unprecedented, and offers opportunities for exploring how global interconnectedness will impact future social, economic, and sustainability initiatives.

The second webinar will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 9 a.m., and feature Tim Richards, Marvin and June Morrison Endowed Chair of Agribusiness, and Doug Guthrie, executive director of Thunderbird China at ASU's Center for Asian Research and former senior director at Apple. They’ll discuss how today’s supply chain challenges are shaping the agribusiness and consumer electronics sectors and examine how Apple's manufacturing network offers insights into broader geopolitical and logistical trends.

Learn more about the webinar and register today.