Geopolitics, Supply Chains and The New Era Of Economic Statecraft

Jan Lambregts, Head of RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets (RR GEM) at Rabobank, discusses how geopolitics is increasingly shaping global economic and financial dynamics. As the US returns to a strategy of economic statecraft – combining political, economic, and military influence – strategic competition with China is driving new industrial policy, shifting alliances, and renewed focus on domestic production and economic security.

These developments are also transforming global supply chains and market behaviour. Businesses are moving from “just in time” production toward more resilience-focused models as geopolitical risk and trade tensions rise. At the same time, regulatory frameworks – including those related to sustainability – are increasingly diverging across geopolitical blocs, reflecting a world that is gradually fragmenting into competing economic systems.