By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
For the licensing industry, these are dangerous times.
As Russia prosecutes its brutal invasion of Ukraine, the US government and its NATO allies have made it clear to China that any aid to Russia will result in serious and potentially devastating consequences.
But those consequences can cut both ways when you’re dealing with the world’s second largest economy, and the largest exporter of manufactured goods. And it’s particularly of concern for the licensing and consumer products industries, which depend heavily on China for manufacturing.
Last week TLL published an in-depth analysis of the danger of a Cold War between China and the West, a development that appears increasingly possible given Beijing’s refusal to give up on its “alliance without limits” with the Kremlin.
This week, we want to hear from you about how you and your company are dealing with the possibility of a Cold War, or at the least, a major trade war between China and the West? Are you looking at moving or spreading out your manufacturing options? If so, where would you go for production, and why?
These are critical questions for an industry that could be plunged into chaos in the event major sanctions are placed on the Chinese economy, and conversely, if China sanctions the West in return.
Please help us by filling out the Licensing Letter poll. It will take only three minutes, but we hope the results published on April 1 will help our industry prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best. You can TAKE THE POLL BY CLICKING HERE, and you can send this link to others you think may also want to take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L3CK6TD
Thanks in advance for your help.