Book excerpt: "Over the past 30 years, international trade has grown constantly and since 2008 it has increased by 26% (World Trade Organization 2019). In the same period of time foreign direct investment (FDI) grew more than 20% before 2000, 8 % in 2000-2007, and has shown slow growth since 2008, averaging about 1% growth per year for a decade (UNCTAD 2019b, p. xi).1 What we have also observed (but we lack systematic data) is a spectacular growth of trade in parts and components and a substantial increase of trade in services, reflecting companies' investment and sourcing decisions increasing the web of global and regional supply chains. The "death of distance" through lower transport costs and advancements in information technology has contributed to accelerating these developments"--