• China's isolation from coronavirus is turning into a logistical nightmare that threatens to have a heavy impact on the global supply chain. The risk has increased now that Beijing has declared that it is ready to grant "force majeure" certificates to subjects who, due to transport difficulties, will not be able to comply with commercial contracts.

A load of timber or an oil tanker, under certain conditions, can therefore be rejected to the sender without paying the price or incurring any penalty. The same legal shield can also defend Chinese suppliers for the non-delivery of raw materials or products of any kind, from steel to auto components to printed t-shirts.