Impact of US sanctions policy towards China on the structure of international trade and the resilience of global supply chains

<ns0:p>The research relevance is determined by the transformation of the structure of international trade as a result of the United States sanctions policy towards China, accompanied by the relocation of production, risks of fragmentation of global supply chains, and the need to determine its consequences for the stability of the world economy and the balance of power. The study aimed to determine how the US sanctions policy towards China is changing the structure of international trade flows and affecting the stability of global supply chains. To achieve this goal, the following methods were used: theoretical analysis of the factors shaping the sanctions policy; a comparative analysis using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index calculated for China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany and South Korea; and a SWOT analysis of the implementation of sanctions restrictions on the economy of the People’s Republic of China and the architecture of international trade. The study identified key factors in the introduction and intensification of sanctions pressure on China by the United States: technological and economic competition, national security considerations and defence risks, human rights violations and humanitarian issues, as well as geopolitical rivalry between countries. A comparative analysis of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index showed that the introduction of US sanctions led to a decrease in the concentration of bilateral trade between the United States and China, with a simultaneous increase in the role of third countries, mainly Mexico. The study determined that although increased sanctions pressure limits China’s access to technology and slows down its expansion in the global market, it also motivates the search for ways to achieve technological self-sufficiency and geographical diversification of supply chains. The results of the study can be used to determine the impact of economic sanctions on all participants in the process and to find alternative ways to effective international cooperation and sustainable development</ns0:p>

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Published
2026-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59214/ua.fa/2.2026.38
Primary Topic
Economic Sanctions and International Relations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Impact of US sanctions policy towards China on the structure of international trade and the resilience of global supply chains

Ming Li
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Economic Sanctions and International Relations
article

Impact of US sanctions policy towards China on the structure of international trade and the resilience of global supply chains

Ming Li
article en

Abstract

<ns0:p>The research relevance is determined by the transformation of the structure of international trade as a result of the United States sanctions policy towards China, accompanied by the relocation of production, risks of fragmentation of global supply chains, and the need to determine its consequences for the stability of the world economy and the balance of power. The study aimed to determine how the US sanctions policy towards China is changing the structure of international trade flows and affecting the stability of global supply chains. To achieve this goal, the following methods were used: theoretical analysis of the factors shaping the sanctions policy; a comparative analysis using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index calculated for China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany and South Korea; and a SWOT analysis of the implementation of sanctions restrictions on the economy of the People’s Republic of China and the architecture of international trade. The study identified key factors in the introduction and intensification of sanctions pressure on China by the United States: technological and economic competition, national security considerations and defence risks, human rights violations and humanitarian issues, as well as geopolitical rivalry between countries. A comparative analysis of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index showed that the introduction of US sanctions led to a decrease in the concentration of bilateral trade between the United States and China, with a simultaneous increase in the role of third countries, mainly Mexico. The study determined that although increased sanctions pressure limits China’s access to technology and slows down its expansion in the global market, it also motivates the search for ways to achieve technological self-sufficiency and geographical diversification of supply chains. The results of the study can be used to determine the impact of economic sanctions on all participants in the process and to find alternative ways to effective international cooperation and sustainable development</ns0:p>

FOREIGN AFFAIRSVol. 36(2)
Guangzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology (CN)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Economic Sanctions and International Relations
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.