Dear IPC Members:

In the United States, Election Day 2020 has come and gone with no declared winner yet in the presidential race. We’re hoping for a speedy, orderly resolution of the presidential race because the U.S. economy is already facing headwinds, and a prolonged period of uncertainty would add more obstacles.

In the U.S. Senate, the Republicans appear to have kept a slim majority, and in the House, the Democrats lost about five seats. Narrower majorities in each chamber will tend to strengthen the hand of moderates.

Whoever the final victors turn out to be, there is plenty of work to be done in the “lame duck” session of Congress – and then in the next two years – to keep our industry at the forefront of the economic recovery.

As we get ready for 2021, we ask you again to pledge to continue your involvement in IPC advocacy in 2021. With your help, we can start the new year in a strong position to advance our advocacy goals.

All the best and stay safe,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

Election 2020 — What Does It Mean for Your Business? On November 4, IPC hosted a post-election discussion with our friends Charlie Black and Scott Pastrick of Prime Policy Group, and the one thing everyone agreed on was that our next president is going to be governing an extremely divided country and U.S. Congress. Black noted that under a Biden administration, the U.S. would likely take a more measured approach to China, roll back tariffs, and foster a stronger relationship with the World Trade Organization – all positives for IPC members. Stay tuned for details on a follow-up webinar with more analysis of how the results will affect our industry. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

U.S. Stimulus Legislation May See Vote Before 2021: In an abrupt change of tone, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on November 4 that “Congress should approve a coronavirus relief package before the end of the year,” Politico reports. The overall price tag continues to be a sticking point, as well as aid for state and local governments, business liability protections, and the extension of federal unemployment benefits. However, the renewed optimism for a deal is welcome amid a persistent pandemic and unsettled economic conditions. IPC continues to urges negotiators to reach an agreement on a recovery package with pro-manufacturing provisions. We will keep you updated as negotiations continue. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

How is COVID-19 Affecting the Economy Now? IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac recently released IPC's October Economic Outlook Report, and the outlook is unsettled at best. While the economic recovery remains intact for now, it is losing momentum and downside risks are rising. On the bright side, the electronics manufacturing industry continues to hold up better than just about anyone else. However, countries across Europe are beginning to reimpose lockdowns amid rising rates of infection. Please let Shawn know if you have questions, and be sure to visit IPC’s COVID-19 Update web page for the latest on how to keep your business and workforce protected. IPC Contact: Shawn DuBravac.

Federal Reserve Makes Changes to Small Business Lending Program: On October 30, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced it would be lowering the minimum loan size for the Main Street Lending Program from $250,000 to $100,000 in an effort to expand eligibility to a wider range of small businesses. The Federal Reserve also announced it would reduce the processing fees for lenders offering Main Street loans below $250,000 to further incentivize lending to smaller companies in need of capital. Read more about the latest updates to the lending program here. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU

Which Government Policy Issues Are You Riled Up About? IPC has been conducting an ongoing member survey about the government policy issues that concern you most. We received a host of new responses amid Election 2020, and here are the updated survey results. When asking our members to identify their top areas of concern, a majority mentioned trade and tariffs (54 percent). A second tier of top issues are education and workforce skills (33 percent); incentives for research, development, and investment (33 percent); environmental regulations (31 percent); taxes (28 percent); and intellectual property protection (28 percent). Which government policy issues matter the most to you? Simply click here to take our five-question, five-minute survey.
 
Join IPC’s Pledge to Stay Involved After the Election: The IPC Government Relations team is composed of experienced professionals working for you year-round. But our success depends on awareness and participation from IPC members like you. With the November elections now behind us, our renewed advocacy efforts are just beginning. Please click here to pledge to stay involved in IPC advocacy after the all the votes have been counted. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

DFEENSE AND SECURITY

U.S. Defense Bills Would Bring Greater Resiliency and Security to Electronics Supply Chains: High-level talks over the language of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) are continuing, and a final resolution remains on track by the end of the year. We are still working with key members of Congress on the U.S. House and Senate versions of the NDAA, which include bipartisan provisions to require printed circuit boards (PCB) and PCB assemblies used in defense systems to be acquired from trusted sources. Recently, several groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Aerospace Industries Association, told Congress the measures would be overly restrictive and drive up costs. IPC responded to the opponents in this blog. Stay tuned and let us know if you have an interest in this issue. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

Inside the Semi-Virtual Year for IPC Student Chapter Members: Most of our IPC student chapter members are back on campus for a semi-virtual collegiate experience that significantly affects their courses and extracurriculars. While some of the core benefits of the IPC Student Chapter Program can be delivered virtually through online technical education courses and other online methods, much of IPC’s technologies are hands-on. The IPC Education Foundation is doing all that it can to bring valuable virtual opportunities to learners. Check out this column by Aaron Birney, the IPC education program manager, on the impacts the coronavirus pandemic has had on the academic landscape. IPC Contact: Charlene Gunter.

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

U.S. EPA Moving Toward Key Deliberations on Toxic Chemicals: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approaching a critical phase of deliberations under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the next steps in the process will have major ramifications for electronics manufacturers. Currently, the EPA is nearing the completion of 10 risk evaluations, and is just beginning evaluations of an additional 20 high-priority chemical substances. The EPA is seeking input from IPC and our members, and our expertise will be critical in forging smart solutions that protect human health and the environment and enable our industry to thrive. If you have information that is relevant to these proceedings, we need to hear from you. Check out a recent IPC blog for more information. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

European Commission Rules Out Delay of SCIP Implementation: Despite urgings from IPC and others, on October 28, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) formally launched the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database, while the European Commission rejected the possibility of an ex-post impact assessment. Under the current timeline, the database is set to come into effect on January 5, 2021, just 10 weeks after it was unveiled for the first time. However, industry advocacy will continue, and IPC recently signed a cross-industry letter to the German Presidency of the European Union and heads of the European Council and European Parliament, reiterating the need for a more workable solution. Be sure to tune into the ECHA’s November 19 webinar if you have any questions about the notification process, and let us know if we can help you. IPC Contact: Alison James.

Industry Input Due on European Commission’s Sustainable Products Initiative: The European Commission is seeking industry input on its Sustainable Products Policy Initiative, which “will establish minimum sustainability and information requirements for products sold in the European Union,” according to reporting from the National Law Review. Notably, the initiative, which will also revise the Ecodesign Directive, plans to address the presence of harmful chemicals in electronics and ICT equipment, among other products. The commission is expected to present a legislative proposal by Q1 of 2021. The feedback period has been extended until November 16. IPC Contact: Alison James.
 
Interested in Chemical and Product Regulations in Asia? To help our members, IPC has created nine white papers, each of which highlights the history of chemical regulations, current regulatory systems, recent regulatory updates, and anticipated trends in the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia are the latest countries to undergo a deep dive by our environmental, health, and safety (EHS) experts. Please check out this recent IPC blog for links to papers on China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
 

EUROPEAN UNION

Commission Launches Consultation on Sustainable Corporate Governance: On October 26, the European Commission launched a public consultation on its upcoming sustainable corporate governance legislative initiative. The initiative, expected in Q2 of 2021, is set to introduce binding supply chain due diligence requirements and will seek to reorient businesses to focus on long-term sustainable value creation rather than short-term benefits. The consultation will be open to stakeholder input until February 8, 2021. Please let us know if you have any questions about this upcoming initiative and if it will affect your business. IPC Contact: Alison James.

“Policy Going Forward Will be Viewed Through the Lens of Recovery”: Interested in what’s happening in IPC Europe? The IPC Blog staff recently chatted with Alison James, IPC’s senior director for Europe, about the bloc’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as other issues facing our industry, from the “Green Deal” to chemicals regulation to supply chain resiliency. Read the full blog post here, and reach out to Alison if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Alison James.
 
France Seeks Proposals for Investments in Electronics Manufacturing: On September 3, France unveiled a €100 billion ($118 billion) recovery plan aiming to fuel investments in the reshoring and strengthening of key industrial sectors, including electronics manufacturing. To help accomplish this, on August 31, France announced a call for specific investment proposals. Projects aimed at strengthening the capacity of electronic manufacturing companies to respond to crisis situations will be given priority. Companies can submit applications until November 17. Read a recent IPC blog for more information, and let us know your thoughts. IPC Contact: Alison James.

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Europe Strengthens Trade Enforcement with Revamped Regulation: On October 28, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the German Presidency of the Council agreed to reinforce the European Union’s trade enforcement regulation, which would now “allow the EU to retaliate against trade partners before the completion of World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes,” according to reporting from JD Supra. Under the agreement, the commission also committed to developing the EU’s anti-coercion mechanism, “which would allow retaliation, even in the absence of a first-instance Panel WTO ruling by the end of 2021.” The agreement now must be approved by member states by a qualified majority. We will keep you updated as the situation progresses. IPC Contact: Alison James.

Building a Trusted ICT Supply Chain: A recent report by a congressionally chartered expert panel proposes a comprehensive strategy to ensure the continued availability and trustworthiness of critical ICT technologies. On October 19, the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission offered a five-pillar strategy and 13 recommendations, with an emphasis on public-private and international partnerships. Please give the white paper a read and let us know what you think. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

UPCOMING EVENTS

RoHS, REACH, POP and WEEE Considerations When Complying with ISO 14001: Webinar, November 9. IPC Environment, Health, & Safety Policy and Research Director Kelly Scanlon will moderate this free Chemical Watch webinar on how the ISO 14001 standard can help you comply with electronic environmental requirements, such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and more. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Chemicals Management for Electronics USA 2020: Virtual conference, November 12-13. IPC Environment, Health, & Safety Policy and Research Director Kelly Scanlon will present the latest information and advice on chemicals management and restrictions in electronics, including on the Toxic Substances Control Fees Rule and risk evaluations updates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additional IPC staff including Matt Kelly and Patrick Crawford will also present. IPC members receive 15% registration discount: IPC15. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

IPC IMPACT Europe: Virtual, by invitation, members-only event, November 18-19. IPC IMPACT Europe is our opportunity to connect with European Union policymakers, learn about current policy priorities, and discuss how these changes may impact our industry. IPC Contact: Alison James.

Get Ready to Submit Your SCIP Notification: Webinar, November 20. This webinar, sponsored by the European Chemicals Agency, will help you prepare and submit a Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) notification. You will get a demo of how to create and submit a notification and learn the tools that can be used to refer to information already submitted to the SCIP database.

IPC APEX EXPO Moved to March: With safety in mind and facing new considerations around conferences and travel, IPC decided to move IPC APEX EXPO 2021 to March 6-11. Just as your companies are innovating to overcome the challenges of this pandemic, we are adapting as well. Mark your calendars and watch for more details coming soon.

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