Dear IPC Members:

It has been a big week in international trade policy! Just a few hours ago, the U.S. Senate approved the long-awaited U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and yesterday, President Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed the “Phase One” trade deal between their nations. See the related news items below, and stay tuned for more information from IPC on what these pacts mean for our industry. 

Other new developments covered here include updates on Brexit; EU environmental policy; and U.S. congressional action calling for new chemical regulations.

We’re also preparing for IPC APEX EXPO 2020, where we have a variety of government-related activities in store. Read the I-Connect article about it.

Please let us know if you have questions and suggestions.

All the best,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

TOP OF THE WEEK

U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Passed in U.S. Senate With Bipartisan Support: Earlier today, the U.S. Senate officially approved the long-awaited U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with broad bipartisan support. As soon as President Trump signs the legislation, which is expected within days, it will enter into force. IPC applauds the passage of this deal, which is a positive step for the electronics manufacturing industry and for the millions of people who work in it in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. IPC was an active advocate for the USMCA. In December, IPC sent a letter to all members of the U.S. Congress, urging them to vote promptly and affirmatively on the USMCA implementing legislation. IPC members contacted their elected officials in meetings, correspondence and phone calls. Read IPC’s statement on the passage of the trade deal. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

Women Overtake Men as Majority of U.S. Workforce: In the United States, women held more jobs than men in December for the first time since 2010, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Women held 50.04% of jobs last month,109,000 more than men, and if it continues, the trend will affect the future of the electronics manufacturing workforce. IPC is currently conducting a study on the electronics industry’s U.S. workforce, which we plan to publish in Q2. Click here to see our European workforce study. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

DEFENSE

Upcoming Congressional Hearing Impacting Electronics Manufacturing Industry: On Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Armed Services Committee heard from experts on the U.S. Department of Defense’s role in U.S. competition with China. This hearing may have implications for the U.S. defense industrial base and the global electronics manufacturing industry. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Chinese Government Issues Inventory of Severely Restricted Toxic Chemicals: On December 31, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the 2020 version of the Inventory of Severely Restricted Toxic Chemicals. The Inventory includes eight categories: Perfluorooctyl sulfonic acid and its salts & PFOS/F; Hexabromocyclododecane; Mercury; Tetramethyl lead; Tetraethyl lead; Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT); Tributyltin compounds; and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP). To import or export any of the listed toxic chemicals, operators should apply to MEE for clearance papers. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

U.S. EPA Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Certain PFAS: The U.S. EPA is exploring whether to add certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the U.S. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), starting with an opportunity for all stakeholders to provide input. Specifically, EPA is seeking comments on which of the approximately 600 PFAS currently active in U.S. commerce should be evaluated, and how. Your company may be affected by this action if you manufacture, process, or otherwise use PFAS. Comments are due on or before February 3. IPC will track this and keep you posted. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

U.S. House Passes Wide-Ranging PFAS Bill, But U.S. Senate Fate Less Clear: Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives on January 10 approved a bill which would require the U.S. EPA to add PFAS to the list of hazardous substances under the Superfund toxic waste cleanup law, among a range of other provisions. The House bill, passed by a 247-159 vote, faces an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled Senate, where it faces opposition from Republican senators and the White House, who consider it an overreach. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

U.S. High Priority Chemical Substances Announced: The U.S. EPA has announced the final list of 20 chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The 20 chemicals include seven chlorinated solvents, six phthalates, four flame retardants, formaldehyde, a fragrance additive, and a polymer precursor. By June, the EPA will finalize scoping documents for these 20 chemicals, which is the first step of the multi-year risk evaluation process. IPC will participate in the scoping process for those chemicals critical to electronics manufacturing, i.e., TBBPA. Please contact Kelly Scanlon if you would like to participate.

Do You Use Engineered Nanomaterials in Your Electronics Manufacturing or R&D? The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to evaluate the scientific data on engineered nanomaterials to develop recommended occupational exposure limits based on the available scientific evidence. NIOSH is seeking materials, including published and unpublished reports and research findings, to evaluate the possible adverse health risks of occupational exposure to engineered nanomaterials. If you would like to share information with NIOSH or with us, please contact Kelly Scanlon.

EUROPEAN UNION

New Roadmap for European Climate Law Published: The European Commission has published a “Roadmap” for a European Climate Law, which will enshrine a core tenet of the European Green Deal – climate neutrality by 2050 – into legislation. To achieve this goal, all relevant EU policies will have a renewed focus on cutting emissions, investing in green technologies and protecting the natural environment. By this summer, the commission will present a plan to revise the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030, boosting it to at least 50% compared to levels in 1990. Under the European Green Deal, the Climate Law is expected to be officially proposed in March and linked to a new EU Industrial Policy and the Circular Economy Action Plan. However, its legal form remains to be determined. The Roadmap is open for feedback through February 6. IPC Contact: Alison James.

European Commission Signals Post-Brexit Negotiation Approach: As the date of the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU approaches, the European Commission’s Task Force for Relations with the UK has outlined its positions on issues to be addressed in post-Brexit negotiations. If the UK withdraws from the EU on January 31 as expected, there will be a transition period of 11 months to allow for the conclusion of a post-Brexit trade agreement. Therefore, the Commission plans to present its recommendations for the EU negotiation mandate quickly and without “surprises” to allow for a timely adoption by the EU 27 once the UK has officially withdrawn. Key issues during the negotiation period will include, among others, cooperation between regulators as well as mutual recognition of assessments. IPC Contact: Alison James.

TRADE & INVESTMENT

IPC, Other Associations Highlight Concerns with Proposed Rule on ICT Supply Chain: Last week, IPC joined 30 other industry associations in a joint letter expressing concerns with the Trump administration’s proposed restrictions on the information and communications technology (ICT) supply chain. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s proposed rule, announced on November 27, would address the possibility that foreign adversaries are exploiting ICT supply chains to commit cyber-crimes, including economic and industrial espionage against the United States. In the letter, IPC and the other associations sympathized with the proposal’s objective but expressed concerns about the rule’s lack of clarity and its overly broad scope. Last month, the department issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that said it will clarify and narrow the scope of the proposal; establish procedures for government accountability and due process protections; ensure confidentiality of sensitive commercial information in the review process; and define procedures for waivers, appeals, and mitigation. For further questions on the proposed rule, please contact Chris Mitchell.

UPCOMING EVENTS

IMPACT Washington, D.C.: March 25-26, 2020. This is IPC’s signature U.S. advocacy event, providing opportunities for members to educate policy makers on the issues that affect them most. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

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