Q&A with Stuart Malawer: Global Supply Chains in the Face of COVID-19

In the coming days we will ask Schar School experts to weigh in on the COVID-19 crisis as it pertains to their field of study.

Stuart Malawer is an expert on international trade, national security law, and global trade law. He was a member of the Virginia Governor’s trade missions with Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to China, India, and Japan. Malawer has written books on global trade law, national security law, and the definitive book on World Trade Organization law and litigation. Along with teaching courses on global trade at the Schar School of Policy and Government, he serves as the principal investigator of a study for the Department of Defense on cybersecurity export markets.

Currently, U.S. international trade policy is characterized by protectionist policies. How does this relate to COVID-19?

Malawer: The global trading system and multilateral institutions have been targets of President Trump’s delusional war on all forms of global cooperation. The Coronavirus demonstrates to all the intricate connectivity of the global system. It demonstrates the foolishness of Trump’s war on international rules and institutions.

What does the outbreak of COVID-19 mean for crucial global supply chains?

Malawer: Trade and international business transactions today are dominated by global supply chains. Tariff wars need to stop—now. Unilateral actions of the Trump administration must be shut down. Period.

What does the future of global supply chains look like in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis?

Malawer: Perhaps an upside is that all nations once again will understand that we all live in a global system and that system, needs to be nourished, thoughtfully.