Can hi-tech supply chains binding China and America be untangled?

By Mike Bird

Gwyneth Paltrow introduced the world to the concept of “conscious uncoupling” in 2014 during her divorce from Chris Martin. Much mockery ensued. But in 2024 it is not an actress and a rock star who want to gently step back from an interdependent relationship. America and China now face that challenge, as relations become increasingly chilly.

The most common term for it is “decoupling”, though the American government prefers “de-risking”, and applies it narrowly, to a few areas of advanced manufacturing. But whatever you call it, the difficulties in making a separation work are clear.