Globalisation has made it easier for local risks to become global risks. Global value chains (GVCs) have recently acted as important channels of contagion, because of their global network character. Local demand and supply shocks that start in one part of the global economy can spread rapidly to the entire world. Global disruptions such as the 2008 financial crisis and the 2011 Japanese earthquake have brought the potential global systemic risks to the attention of policy makers. While firms are the first in line to manage the risks of GVCs, governments also have an important role, since disruptions in GVCs can have major political, economic and security implications for national economies. A multi-stakeholder approach on an international scale will increase the speed and effectiveness of pre-disruption planning and of post-disruption responses.