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C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E 1 4 S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 Beneath the surface of debates about reshoring, tariffs, and supply chain resilience lies a deeper real- ity: Global electronics manufacturing is increasingly driven by the flow of inputs, not just the shipment of final goods. Electronics manufacturing is not just global; it is globally interdependent. In 2023 (the most recent data available), electronics trade reached $4.4 tril- lion, accounting for more than 20% of total global merchandise trade. This figure reflects not only strong consumer demand for smartphones, com- puters, and electric vehicles, but also the dense web of international transactions behind each fin- ished product. Electronic components such as semiconductors, circuit boards, connec- tors, sensors, and batteries now account for most trade in the electronics sec- tor. This dynamic has accelerated in recent years, reflecting the growing complexity of both devices and supply chains. In 2023, global trade in electronics inputs exceeded trade in finished electronics by more than $400 billion. As products become more techno- logically advanced, they require a larger number of specialized parts, many produced in only a handful of locations. The result is a supply chain that is highly fragmented, deeply layered, and tightly intercon- nected across borders. This interdependence is structural. No country controls the entire value chain, and efforts to achieve "technological self-sufficiency" must reckon with the deep-rooted realities of global specialization. For companies and policymakers, understanding this hidden geography is essential. Resilience may depend less on isolation and more on how interde- pendence is managed. Implications of New Manufacturing Hubs China exemplifies the paradox at the heart of global electronics trade. As the world's largest exporter of finished electronics, it plays a central role in assem- By Dr. Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist, Global Electronics Association B I T S & B Y T E S The Hidden Geography of Electronics Rethinking trade, inputs, and strategic advantage