President Trump has exposed a reality that we have ignored for far too long: International trade is no longer just about economics — it is also about national security. The U.S. faces a critical challenge in ensuring that the goods flowing into the country are not just cheap and efficient, but also safe and strategically sound.

Our global supply chains, long built for maximum cost-effectiveness, are now potential liabilities, susceptible to exploitation by adversaries and prone to disruption. Nowhere is this risk more pronounced than in our economic competition with China.

For decades now, we have recognized that financial institutions must exercise Know Your Customer policies. This helps to minimize the risks from money laundering and keeps funds out of the hands of terrorist organizations and organized crime.

In a similar vein, as geopolitical tensions with China rise, we must ask whether we really know where our products come from, and more importantly, who controls them.

The U.S. depends heavily on imports for many essential goods — pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, medical devices and critical minerals, to name a few. This reliance is not inherently dangerous, but our inability to trace these goods to their origin leaves us vulnerable.

This is the era of "Know Your Product."

During the years of peak globalization, American businesses prioritized efficiency, often sourcing materials and products from the lowest-cost supplier.

The problem? Many of........

© The Hill