As victim of China’s weaponization of essential products, Canada needs to help diversify supply chains for the benefit of the world, writes Stephen Nagy in the Japan Times.

The international dimension to China's Dual Circulation Strategy can be summarized as the use of the country's domestic savings pool to achieve its geopolitical goals by economic means. This is unlikely to go unchallenged by market economies, and the global trading system will likely suffer further stress as the politicization of every aspect of international economic engagement deepens.

The call to remove IP on Covid-19 products could be counterproductive, slowing the innovation response to pandemics – current and future – and stemming the relevant technology and knowledge flows globally. The reason is simple: An absence of IP protection would make knowledge and technology sharing unduly risky.

Geopolitical undercurrents are causing upstream supply chains in the EV sector to fragment into localized ecosystems in China, Europe, and North America. The growing nexus between semiconductors and EVs will follow a similar pattern. Techno-nationalism will increase the likelihood of more restrictions on dual-use technologies, presenting complex challenges to global trade.