In today’s ever-changing business environment, companies are confronted with numerous challenges. Traditional advantages such as economies of scale are increasingly undermined by supply chain disruptions or dynamic network effects, threatening secure market positions.

Unexpected challenges can hit global trade at any time. This was proven once again by the “Ever Given” accident. Since Tuesday night, the container ship has been blocking the Suez Canal and thus one of the world's most important trade routes. Already strained supply chains are further strained, while an end to the blockade is not in sight.

Many parts of the globe continue to witness unprecedented social and political unrest, natural catastrophes and force majeur like the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, Supply Chain risk management has become a more critical process for firms to safeguard their long-term success.

WHO statement of a pandemic and its legal implications
Update: March 12, 2020
As of 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak of a pandemic. In the interactive web based dashboard of the Johns Hopkins University one can see this global spread. With the status of pandemic, companies can get much stronger rights under relevant clauses in contracts between companies.
