WASHINGTON -- China's dominance in critical sectors such as printed circuit board manufacturing represents a “significant and growing risk” to the US military's supply chain, according to a new report from the US Department of Defense.

The DoD commissioned the report to identify and correct threats in core US industries seen as vital to national security. 

"Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States" found that more than 90% of the world’s printed circuit boards are produced in Asia, half in China alone, which makes the US vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. 

With the migration of advanced board manufacturing offshore, (the DoD) risks losing visibility into the manufacturing provenance of its products,” the report indicated.

The report notes various China practices seen as anti-competitive to US businesses, such as dumping products on global markets and IP theft. The 150-page report is at https://media.defense.gov/2018/Oct/05/2002048904/-1/-1/1/ASSESSING-AND-STRENGTHENING-THE-MANUFACTURING-AND%20DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE-AND-SUPPLY-CHAIN-RESILIENCY.PDF.

Read Mike Buetow's related commentary:

• "In Washington, a Rare Opportunity to Rebuild an Industry"
•  "Defense Bill Attacks (Some) Industry Problems"

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