NYAIR Episode 40
The Impact of the Coronavirus on Global Commerce
NY-AIR brings back acclaimed geopolitical analyst and author Gordon Chang to unpack the far-reaching economic and strategic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on China and the world's supply chains. Moderated by Robert Akeson, this episode explores dramatic shifts in global manufacturing, rare earths, data security, and the future of international trade—revealing risks and opportunities every investor, allocator, and corporate strategist must understand.
Featured Guests
Gordon Chang
Author, Columnist, and Leading Geopolitical Analyst
Gordon Chang is widely recognized for his books The Coming Collapse of China and Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes on the World. As an incisive columnist for The Daily Beast and contributor to The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Fox News, Chang is a sought-after commentator on Chinese policy, trade, cybersecurity, national security, and geopolitics. He is celebrated for his clarity and forthright views, and has briefed senior policy, corporate, and investment audiences globally.
Robert Akeson
Managing Director Investment Banking at Riverside Management Group
A capital markets infrastructure expert, Robert Akeson leverages decades of practical experience and a strategic vantage point on U.S.-China policy, supply chain risk, and global finance.
Key Insights From This Episode
Supply Chain Redesign and Reshoring
Pandemic disruptions and government action have made resilient, localized, and secure supply chains a national priority—expect more onshoring, shorter trade routes, and a renewed focus on “critical” sectors (pharma, tech, rare earths, etc.).
China’s 5G, Surveillance & Tech Dominance
Huawei’s 5G ambitions and access to U.S. and global infrastructure are now widely viewed as national security risks. Open-source architectures and diversified vendors are essential as countries move to limit China’s influence over future technology rails.
Pandemics, Black Swans, and a Return to Self-Sufficiency
Chang argues that advanced economies must balance efficiency with national resilience—political incentives are swinging strongly toward domestic production and away from deep, dependent global integration.
Geopolitics of Rare Earths
China’s “rare earth” near-monopoly is a function of past policy, not geology. U.S. and allied nations have the resources and means to build independent, responsible mining and processing—though the transition will be costly and slow.
Fragmented Globalization: Toward Regional Trading Blocs
Brexit, USMCA, rising populism, and pandemic policy are accelerating the move from one global system to regional alliances and “proximity manufacturing.” Future commerce and climate goals will require a delicate balance.
Access the Full Conversation
Listen to this unfiltered episode and download a custom insights deck covering supply chain transition, trade policy, tech security, and capital market adaptation—vital for any senior leader navigating this critical inflection point.
Soundbites Worth Saving
“Self-sufficiency is going to be considered a much more important objective for us... We are going to move in that direction.”
— Gordon Chang
“It used to be a world of interdependence. That model is breaking down—economics is taking a backseat to national security.”
— Gordon Chang
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