Supply chain dependency
The strategic vulnerability of the United States resulting from its reliance on China for critical resources like rare earth minerals and processed magnets, which is driving efforts to re-shore production.
First Mentioned
10/18/2025, 4:01:09 AM
Last Updated
10/18/2025, 4:03:02 AM
Research Retrieved
10/18/2025, 4:03:02 AM
Summary
Supply chain dependency is a critical concept describing the reliance of an entity, such as a nation or industry, on external sources for essential goods or components. This dependency has become a central concern in geopolitical and economic contexts, notably in the US-China trade battle, where the United States is actively seeking to reduce its reliance on China for critical resources like rare earth minerals. Efforts to mitigate this include considering price floors, establishing strategic reserves, and reshoring processing capabilities. The concept also extends to the software industry, where a software supply chain encompasses all elements used in software development, and a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) serves as an inventory of these components. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of technologies like AI highlights new dependencies on data centers and their associated resources, prompting discussions about job displacement and the need for reshoring critical processing. Understanding and mapping these dependencies are crucial for identifying vulnerabilities, ensuring business resilience, and mitigating risks such as power imbalances, geopolitical disruptions, and single-source reliance.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Risks
Vulnerabilities, power imbalances, undermining supply chain resilience, operational flexibility, resource slacks, geopolitical disruptions, localized disruptions, organizational risk from single company reliance
Scope
Nations, industries, software development, technology infrastructure
Definition
Reliance of one entity (e.g., nation, industry) on external sources for critical goods or components
Impact of Tariffs
Increased costs for imported goods, increased consumer prices, loss of market share, job losses in dependent industries
Mitigation Strategies
Price floors, strategic reserve, reshoring processing, supply chain diversification, mapping critical dependencies, consistent review and updating of dependency maps
Key Concept (Software)
Software Bill of Materials (SBOM): inventory of components (open source and proprietary) used to build a software artifact
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaSoftware supply chain
A software supply chain is the components, libraries, tools, and processes used to develop, build, and publish a software artifact. A software bill of materials (SBOM) declares the inventory of components used to build a software artifact, including any open source and proprietary software components. It is the software analogue to the traditional manufacturing BOM, which is used as part of supply chain management.
Web Search Results
- Actionable Steps to Map Your Critical Supply Chain Dependencies
These evolving requirements underscore the legal and strategic imperative for robust supply chain dependency mapping. ## Step-by-Step guide to mapping critical supply chain dependencies ### Step 1: Define critical products, services, and business functions Before diving into dependencies, an organization must clearly identify what's truly critical to its survival and success. This ensures focus on areas where they matter most. [...] ## Actionable Steps to Map Your Critical Supply Chain Dependencies In today's dynamic global environment, supply chain vulnerabilities pose serious risks. Resilience begins with an accurate context understanding. Mapping your critical supply chain dependencies is a foundational step in identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring business posture because the ability to quickly identify, understand, and mitigate disruptions hinges on a deep understanding of organizational dependencies. [...] Action: Establish a consistent schedule for reviewing and updating your supply chain dependency maps. This accounts for evolving sourcing strategies, new product introductions, supplier changes, and shifts in the risk landscape. Practical Tips: Align with regulatory cycles. Automate where possible. Integrate into existing processes.
- Supply chain relationship dependencies and circular economy ...
Nevertheless, some other studies oppose this view. They argue that dependence on major suppliers/customers hurts corporate performance, undermining the focal firm's supply chain resilience, operational flexibility, and resource slacks (Kim, 2017; Kim and Zhu, 2018; Saboo et al., 2017). For instance, Ofilm, Apple's former supplier of iPhone camera modules, described their relationship with Apple as a sweet shackle. When it was a member of Apple's supply chain, it once ranked first in its [...] While prior literature suggests that firms can rely on suppliers and buyers for external resources to overcome constrained internal resource problems and thus fuel circular economy (CE) performance, scholars also argue that such dependency can lead to power imbalances, which will compromise operations. Drawing on resource dependence theory (RDT), we investigated how the degree of dependence of focal firms on suppliers and customers affects their CE performance. In addition, the study proposes [...] lead to imbalanced supply chain power among the firm, its suppliers, and customers, thus deteriorating the firm's resource acquisition and allocation (Jiang et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2023). Following this logic, we expect that the more a firm depends on its major suppliers and customers, the worse its CE performance.
- Beyond Dependence: The Power of Supply Chain Diversification
For example, you should consider minimizing your dependency on suppliers from high-risk countries, such as countries and economies that have a high level of corruption or political instability. [...] Supply chain diversification can help to mitigate such risks by reducing dependency on a single source. So, even if a geopolitical disruption occurs in one region, you can still source your supplies from other regions if you have wider sourcing in your supply chain. As a result of the US-China trade war, for example, 57% of leaders who oversee supply chain management have indicated their companies are diversifying their supply chains away from Chinese suppliers. [...] Diversified supply chains are less vulnerable to localized disruptions, such as labor strikes, political instability and natural disasters. But this can also protect against organizational risk if your supply chain is too dependent on a single company. If a disruption occurs in one region or a major supplier, you can still source parts or raw materials from other regions. Flexibility
- Supply Chains Explained: How They Work and Why Tariffs Can ...
A supply chain is a series of connected processes transforming raw materials into finished products and distributing them to consumers. Companies optimize costs by sourcing parts from suppliers rather than making everything in-house. Tariffs disrupt global supply chains by increasing costs for imported goods. Trade conflicts can lead to increased consumer prices, loss of market share, and job losses in supply chain-dependent industries. [...] ### What is a supply chain and how does it work in basic terms? A supply chain is a series of linkages from raw materials to final product for end use and back to raw materials after use. Each stage of the supply chain involves a transformation step through a manufacturing or a service process and a network of people, companies, organizations and governments.
- Supply Chain Interdependencies → Term
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