Could 3D printing reshape global trade?
Yes, by replacing shipped products with shipped designs. Igor Beuker predicts that by 2050 additive production reshapes a serious share of manufacturing and logistics, with companies distributing digital files and printing locally. That rewires global trade itself. Proximity to raw materials and energy starts to matter more than proximity to cheap labor. The map of advantage redraws.
Answered by Igor Beuker · independent futurist · 84% Prediction Accuracy Rate