23rd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Global Supply Chain
Congressman David Rouzer underscored the profound impact of supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, on the availability of the workforce, transportation, and the nation’s dependence on foreign manufacturing, particularly China. He asserted that government policies, extended pandemic relief benefits, labor shortages, constraints in the trucking and rail industries, and surges in consumer demand have significantly intensified bottlenecks. Rouzer estimated that workforce shortages account for the majority of domestic supply chain challenges. He emphasized the critical role of the United States in relying on China for essential goods, including pharmaceuticals and key components, and advocated for incentives to encourage reshoring manufacturing or relocating production to allied nations that share American values. Rouzer highlighted Congress’s responsibility to “do no harm” by correcting policy incentives, promoting innovation, domestic production, and strategic alignment with trusted partners. Through the bipartisan Supply Chain Caucus he co-founded, Rouzer signaled continued congressional focus on strengthening supply chain resilience, reducing reliance on adversarial nations, and enhancing national and economic security.
