IPC Global Advocacy Report
12/11/2020

Dear IPC Members:

I hope you and yours are doing well.

We predicted a busy December and, so far, it has not disappointed.

Here in Washington D.C., the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) secured a veto-proof vote of approval in the House of Representatives, with the Senate following suit on Friday afternoon. President Trump has threatened to veto the bill for unrelated reasons, but if he does so, the Congress is certain to override the veto. Stay tuned to IPC’s social media accounts to stay informed.
 
Meanwhile, there are several other opportunities to make your voice heard and help out the entire industry, including calling on Congress to pass another coronavirus recovery bill before the holiday break. Head over to the IPC Action Alert Center, find an issue you are passionate about, and get involved; it only takes a few minutes!

For a look at the road ahead, check out my blog on the Biden policy agenda; and join us for an online discussion of this topic on December 16.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding IPC’s advocacy work. We want to head into 2021 with as much momentum as possible, and we cannot do it without you!

All the best, and continue to stay safe,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations


TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

IPC Applauds U.S. House Approval of Defense Policy Act: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including pro-electronics-industry language sought by IPC, with a veto-proof majority on Tuesday. IPC is encouraged by the inclusion of new restrictions on the sourcing of printed circuit boards and assemblies for defense electronics. With the Senate approving the bill late Friday, we now call on President Donald Trump to sign it into law without delay. Read our full statement here. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

How Will Electronics Fare Under a Biden Administration? IPC is encouraged that President-elect Joe Biden has spoken of rebuilding U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity, and we are hopeful it foretells how his administration will operate. I recently penned an IPC blog on what the incoming Biden administration could mean for manufacturing policy, tax and trade, regulation, and workforce issues. Give the blog a read; join us for an online discussion of this topic on December 16; and let us know if you have any questions, suggestions, or want to get involved in IPC’s advocacy work. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

PCB Manufacturers, Uncle Sam Wants to Hear from You: The U.S. Department of Defense Executive Agent for Printed Circuit Board and Interconnect Technology (PrCB EA) is undertaking a survey to determine the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. printed circuit board industry and assess the effectiveness of industry and government response measures. All individual responses to this survey will be anonymous, and the results will be reported in the aggregate. IPC encourages you all to participate. Responses are due December 11. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

IPC APEX EXPO 2021 Goes Virtual: With safety in mind and facing new considerations around conferences and travel, IPC has decided IPC APEX EXPO 2021 will now take place in a safe, all-virtual format and will be held March 8-12. Just as your companies are innovating to overcome the challenges of this pandemic, we are adapting as well. Registration for IPC APEX EXPO 2021 is expected to open December 17. To view the schedule at a glance and exhibitor list, visit www.ipcapexexpo.org. 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, and here are the latest insights. When asking our members to identify their top areas of concern, a majority mentioned trade and tariffs (54 percent). A second tier of concerns 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.
 
Pledge to Stay Involved in IPC Advocacy in 2021: 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 2021 advocacy efforts are just beginning. Please click here to pledge to stay involved in IPC advocacy. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

With our concrete proposals for cooperation under the future Biden administration, we are sending strong messages to our U.S. friends and allies. Let's look forward, not back. Let's rejuvenate our relationship. Let's build a partnership that delivers prosperity, stability, peace, and security for citizens across our continents and around the world. There's no time to wait – let's get to work.”
– EU High Representative Josep Borrell on the newly released EU-U.S. transatlantic agenda.

 

DFEENSE AND SECURITY

Military Prowess Requires an Embrace of Lead-Free Electronics: The U.S. defense community’s continuing reliance on lead-based electronics – and the widening gap between the commercial and defense markets – puts the military’s technological superiority and readiness at risk, IPC President and CEO John Mitchell explains in a recent op-ed featured in both Defense News and Military Times. IPC calls on the U.S. Congress to make a greater investment in research and development into lead-free electronics for the defense industry. Give the op-ed a read, and let us know what you think. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

 

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

IPC Student Chapters Gear Up for Competitions Amid COVID-19: With in-person events still a ways off, the IPC Education Foundation (IPCEF) has had to get creative to deliver competitions and team-based projects to members of the 38 IPC student chapters across the United States. This has been a challenge for an industry that relies so heavily on physical products. Check out this recent article from IPC Education Program Manager Aaron Birney for more on how the IPCEF is handling this challenge. IPC Contact: Charlene Gunter.

House Passes Apprenticeship Legislation: On November 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which would amend and expand the national apprenticeships system by authorizing nearly $4 billion in spending over the next five years on registered apprenticeships that are approved by the Department of Labor. Although expanding apprenticeships has bipartisan support, only 20 Republicans voted in favor because the bill does not include funding for President Donald Trump’s Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs. With limited time left on the legislative calendar and only weak Republican support, Senate action on the bill is considered unlikely. Please let us know if you have an interest in promoting apprenticeship programs. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

 

 

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

What OSHA's Increasing COVID-19 Inspections Mean for You: As the coronavirus pandemic has persisted, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has increased its worker health protections and the number of workplace inspections, resulting in more citations for violating certain standards. This recent OSHA publication provides all the latest information on the frequently cited standards related to COVID-19; we encourage you to use it to benchmark your company’s practices and protocols. Check out a new blog from IPC’s Kelly Scanlon for more information on how to navigate these obligations. The health and safety of our members remains a top priority for IPC. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

EPA Moves Forward on Risk Evaluations of DIDP and DINP: On November 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the draft scope documents for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluations of diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP). DIDP and DINP join 20 high-priority chemical substances under evaluation. However, these phthalates were added at the request of manufacturers as opposed to the agency’s TSCA prioritization process. Both DINP and DIDP phthalates may be used as a plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride in addition to other applications that may affect electronics manufacturing. The comment period on the draft scope documents is open until January 11, 2021. Let us know if you have any thoughts on this. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

EPA Takes Next Steps on TSCA Fees: On November 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated list of companies subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act Fees Rule. This list is expected to be final, with the first payments expected in January 2021. IPC also expects to see a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding amendments to the fees rule soon; we will share all the relevant details with you upon its release. IPC is staying engaged throughout the rulemaking process and has recently met with both the EPA’s fees rule team and the Office of Management and Budget to share the electronics industry’s concerns regarding the existing fees rule. As always, we welcome your insights on fee obligations and what it would mean for your business. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

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 this IPC blog for more information. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

U.S. Chemical Data Reporting Deadline Extended through January: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) submission period through January 29, 2021. The CDR rule requires manufacturers and importers of certain chemical substances listed under the Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory to report data to the EPA every four years. There are several new reporting requirements you should be aware of, including changes related to byproducts, exemptions; and an improved process for reporting co-manufacturing. Let us know if you have any questions as your company goes through the reporting process. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Does Your Company Produce, Import, or Supply Products to the EU? If so, Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database requirements may apply to your company, and the deadline to comply with the information obligations is now less than one month away. The obligations require manufacturers across supply chains to disclose significant new information about chemicals used in their products, with a potentially sizable impact for manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world. 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. For more information on the SCIP database and how it can impact your company, check out a newly updated IPC blog. Let us know if you have any questions about the notification process. IPC Contact: Alison James.

What Do EU Citizens Think About Nanomaterials? European Union citizens are demanding clear labelling of everyday products containing nanomaterials, according to the results of an EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)-commissioned survey. The survey also highlighted rising awareness about the risks and benefits of products containing nanomaterials, a trend that is expected to continue. Meanwhile, the European Commission has promised to further regulate nanomaterials in its chemicals strategy for sustainability and has committed to finalize the nanomaterials review by the end of 2021. IPC Contact: Alison James.

 

EUROPEAN UNION

EU Proposes New Transatlantic Agenda with U.S.: The European Union on December 2 proposed a new transatlantic agenda to improve relations with the United States in anticipation of the incoming Biden administration. The agenda recommended measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation on issues including trade, technology, security, and climate. Proposals included forming an EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council to coordinate and boost transatlantic trade, and establishing “a comprehensive transatlantic green agenda.” The formal launch of a new EU-U.S. agenda is expected to occur at an EU-U.S. Summit in the first half of 2021. IPC Contact: Alison James.
 

IPC Members Gear Up for New Competitive Landscape at IMPACT Europe 2020: Senior executives from across the European electronics manufacturing value chain on November 18-19 met virtually with European Commission officials to advocate for pro-industry policies in a dynamic regulatory landscape. IPC’s IMPACT EUROPE 2020 came at a critical time, with the European Union ramping up consideration of new policies affecting international trade, industrial strategy, environmental policy, and corporate conduct. To all who participated, thank you for your active engagement and for helping to make this event a success! To those of you who missed this opportunity but would like to learn more or become involved, please contact Alison James, IPC’s Senior Director, Europe, and read a full recap of the event here.

 

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Biden to Name China Expert as New U.S. Trade Rep: President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Katherine Tai, a trade lawyer for the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, as the next U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Politico reports. Tai was the former head of China enforcement at USTR and her nomination underscores the priority the Biden administration will place on negotiations with China. Among the immediate issues Tai will have to address include the future of trade talks with the United Kingdom and whether to lift tariffs that President Trump imposed on China and the European Union. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

U.S.-China Trade Relations Remains Rocky: Following the breakdown in bilateral talks earlier this year, the United States and China continue to engage in a tit-for-tat trade dispute. In 2020 alone, the Trump administration has taken 159 policy actions aimed at “countering China's growing power.” On November 12, Trump signed an executive order barring Americans from investing in Chinese companies that support China’s military, with Trump insiders signaling that there are more punitive actions against China to come. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State recently issued a report asserting that China is seeking to displace U.S. leadership and is “a mounting challenge to free countries that adhere to the international, rules-based system.” IPC will continue to monitor all developments between the two nations, including the posture of the incoming Biden administration. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

What Does a Biden Administration Mean for U.S. Manufacturing? Webinar, December 16. President-elect Joe Biden has spoken often about rebuilding the U.S. industrial base. But what do he and the Congress have in mind? And what does that mean for electronics manufacturing? Join IPC Vice President of Global Government Relations Chris Mitchell for a conversation with Gilbert Kaplan, a former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, on the outlook for U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and what we should expect from the Biden administration, from “Made in America” to investments in advanced technologies, taxes, trade, and regulation. Register for the webinar here. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

What Manufacturers Need to Know About New Chemical Reporting Obligations: Webinar, December 17. IPC welcomes you to learn more about the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database at a free webinar hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). The webinar will feature expert speakers who have considerable experience on European Union chemical and product regulations, and will include a detailed presentation on the SCIP database and the key implications facing manufacturers. If you or a colleague would like to join this webinar, please register here, and let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

 

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