The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series The Death of the US Tech Sector: Part 1 || Peter Zeihan
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Dec 20, 2025 The podcast delves into how deglobalization and Trump-era policies are jeopardizing the future of the tech sector. It highlights the complexity of global supply chains and the catastrophic effects of disruptions. Tariffs on Asian imports are pushing the U.S. away from participating in these networks, potentially leading to a significant decline in domestic tech manufacturing. The conversation sets the stage for exploring further challenges in the next segment, including demographics and rising capital costs.
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Complex Cross-Border Supply Chains
- Global tech assembly relies on hundreds to thousands of cross-border supply-chain steps concentrated in East Asia.
- Break any link via deglobalization and the finished product often becomes unusable despite most parts existing.
East Asia's Specialized Production Roles
- East Asia houses specialized, regionally dispersed capabilities like GPUs in Taiwan and photo masks in Japan.
- The region's differentiated labor and industrial roles make it uniquely suited for modern tech manufacture.
Deglobalization Risks Systemic Failures
- Deglobalization that severs any part of these chains risks turning finished devices into expensive paperweights.
- With ~80–85% of tech manufacturing Asia-centric, supply disruptions lead to near-systemic failure.