Some of America’s leading chip-equipment manufacturers are pulling workers from China’s largest chip maker because of new U.S. restrictions on semiconductor exports.

Until recently, international trade’s great big dirty secrets regarding forced labor remained mostly hidden beneath layers and layers of supply chain complexity. Now, some governments are attempting to hold companies more accountable.

The dollar’s surge against the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound and other currencies adds a new wrinkle to the re-shoring drive that has seen some U.S. companies look for domestic alternatives.

The move is being closely watched as a potential signal the model may be closer to a return to service by Chinese carriers.

Natural disasters such as droughts, hurricanes and wildfires are becoming more frequent and are likely to wreak sporadic havoc on global supply chains

Chinese holidaymakers cut back sharply on travel and spending during the National Day break, while signs of a consumer slowdown across Asia mount.

The Biden administration declared Oct. 6 that batteries from China may be tainted by child labor, a move that could upend the electric vehicle industry.

The National Retail Federation forecasts that 2022 retail sales will grow between 6% and 8% over 2021. Sales were up 7.5% during the first eight months of the year.

The department store chain has so far avoided the worst of an inventory pileup because it acted early and aggressively on data signaling worrisome sales trends.