China shifts from factory to HQ role in global electronics supply chain

China is transitioning from being the dominant manufacturing hub to a higher-value 'headquarters' role in the global electronics industry, retaining design, engineering, and supply-chain control while offshoring lower-value assembly. This structural shift, driven by rising costs and geopolitical pressures, is reshaping global supply chains and could have significant implications for trade flows and investment patterns. The exact pace and extent of this transition remain uncertain, but the trend is clear.