IPC Global Advocacy Report

3/4/2022

Dear IPC Members:

A year ago this week, IPC sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden detailing our policy priorities to ensure the long-term growth and resilience of electronics manufacturing.

As demonstrated by Biden’s State of the Union address this week, and by the administration’s recent reports on strategic supply chains, our message is resonating with key policymakers.

Now it’s your chance to help amplify IPC’s U.S. advocacy efforts by participating in our first IMPACT Washington Advocacy Week. Details are below.

Meanwhile, our policy advocacy efforts remain in full swing around the globe. Read on for the latest advocacy highlights from this week, boiled down to a five-minute read. We welcome your comments and questions.

All the best,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

 

The Headlines at a Glance: 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK 

  • Join IPC for IMPACT Washington Advocacy Week, Starting March 16
  • IPC Applauds Manufacturing Focus in Biden’s State of the Union
  • Sanctions on Russia Include Electronics-Related Export Controls
  • IPC Praises U.S. Government Reports on Strategic Supply Chains

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

  • IPC’s John W. Mitchell on the State of the Union

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

  • EPA Reopens Comments on 20 Toxic Substances
  • Feedback Needed on Proposed Changes to RoHS Directive
  • Lead Included on Draft REACH Authorization List

EUROPEAN UNION

  • Commission Presents EU Due Diligence Proposal
  • Commission Launches Stakeholder Survey on Chips Usage

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

  • United States May Investigate Chinese Subsidies to Domestic Companies
  • U.S.-EU TTC Set May Meeting Date
  • U.S. Government Seeks Comment on Chinese Import Restrictions

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Ukraine/Russia Crisis - Electronics-Related Export Controls

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US


TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

Join IPC for IMPACT Washington Advocacy Week, Starting March 16: IPC’s first “IMPACT Washington Advocacy Week” of 2022 kicks off next Wednesday, March 16, and you are invited. First, register for our IPC Executive Forum call on March 16, with special guest Sree Ramaswamy, Senior Advisor in the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning at U.S. Department of Commerce, who will speak about the Biden’s administration’s work to strengthen strategic supply chains and spur advanced manufacturing research and development (R&D). Then, if your company operates in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio Texas, Utah, Vermont, or Washington State, we invite you to join in meetings with key members of Congress from those states. And no matter where your company operates, mark your calendar to visit the IPC Online Advocacy Center between March 16-25 to send your elected officials a message. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

IPC Applauds Manufacturing Focus in Biden’s State of the Union: U.S. President Joe Biden urged the U.S. Congress to pass much-needed funding for semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced technologies during his State of the Union address this week. Both the U.S. House- and Senate-passed competitiveness bills include $52 billion in funding to boost U.S. research and development (R&D). IPC applauds Biden’s ongoing efforts to finalize the competitiveness legislation. IPC was recently among a multi-association group urging Congressional leaders to reach consensus on the legislation. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

Sanctions on Russia Include Electronics-Related Export Controls: Several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union, have imposed severe and immediate sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Chief among them are export controls that will curtail Russia’s access to foreign technological exports, including semiconductors and equipment and components used in electronics. How does this affect your company, and how can you ensure compliance to those sanctions affecting the electronics manufacturing industry? Read more in a new IPC blog and join us for a webinar next week. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

IPC Praises U.S. Government Reports on ICT Supply Chain: IPC is applauding a recent set of U.S. Government reports, which highlight the need for the United States to foster a robust domestic electronics manufacturing industry. With these reports, the Biden administration has made its strongest statements yet about the need to rebuild the entire electronics manufacturing ecosystem, including printed circuit boards (PCBs) and PCB assemblies (PCBAs). The U.S. Department of Commerce report quotes extensively from IPC’s input to them. IPC will continue to urge policymakers to combine investments in chip manufacturing with additional support for advanced packaging, PCBs, and related technologies. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Building a resilient domestic electronics industry is a strategic priority for the United States, and it will require a holistic approach to succeed”
– John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO, comments on U.S. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, urging passage of competitiveness legislation and applauding the expected focus on semiconductors.

 

ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

EPA Reopens Comments on 20 Toxic Substances: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reopened the dockets for the 20 high-priority substances to undergo risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This provides an additional opportunity for the public to submit information that would help inform the risk evaluation processes for these chemicals. The dockets are open until June 9. Please let us know if you are interested in this opportunity to inform future policy decisions. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Feedback Needed on Proposed Changes to RoHS Directive: The European Commission released its call for evidence for an impact assessment as part of its review of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. The call for evidence will allow the commission to explore several possible options, including reform or repeal of the RoHS Directive. The deadline for comments is March 14. Please let us know if your company could be affected by changes to the directive. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Lead Included on Draft REACH Authorization List: Lead (Pb) metal is one of eight substances included on the latest draft Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Authorization List. A three-month public consultation by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) began this month and included requests for information on the ECHA’s draft recommendation and the potential socio-economic consequences. IPC will continue to coordinate with industry stakeholders on this regulatory activity. Let us know if you would like to learn more. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

 

EUROPEAN UNION

Commission Presents EU Due Diligence Proposal: On February 23, the European Commission published its corporate sustainability due diligence proposal, which is aimed at strengthening corporate social responsibility. The proposal would introduce human rights and environmental due diligence rules for all large companies operating within the European Union while excluding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The proposal also calls for company directors to set up and oversee the implementation of due diligence. The proposal will now be examined by the European Parliament and EU Member States. Let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Alison James.

Commission Launches Stakeholder Survey on Chips Usage: The European Commission recently launched a stakeholder survey to capture chip demand and identify potential supply bottlenecks in the bloc. The survey was released in conjunction with the recently announced European Chips Act, which is aimed at improving the bloc ’s semiconductor and microchip production. IPC welcomes the release of the legislation, with its strong support for advanced packaging, and is calling for its swift adoption and implementation as part of a broader strategy to rebuild the European electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The survey is open until March 20. IPC Contact: Alison James.

 

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

United States May Investigate Chinese Subsidies to Domestic Companies: The Biden administration, as part of its review of the U.S. relationship with China, is considering launching a new Section 301 investigation of China’s industrial subsidies. The investigation is among a host of efforts “aimed at protecting America’s edge in new technologies,” The Wall Street Journal reports. Findings of unfair subsidies could lead to additional tariffs or trade restrictions against China. IPC will continue to monitor potential U.S. trade actions that could impact our members and will provide updates as we have them. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

U.S.-EU Tech Council to Meet in May: The U.S-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) is set to meet for the second time this May in France. The TTC was launched last September to foster transatlantic collaboration on critical issues like technological innovation, trade, supply chain resiliency, and economic issues. IPC welcomes efforts to rekindle the U.S-EU partnership and will continue to advocate for transatlantic cooperation on bolstering the entire electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Read our full recommendations to the TTC here. IPC Contact: Alison James.

U.S. Government Seeks Comment on Chinese Import Restrictions: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently published a Federal Register Notice seeking public comment on legislation implementing new Chinese import restrictions. The legislation, called the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), restricts the importation of Chinese goods that are produced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) with forced labor. The deadline for comment is next week, March 10, and the new restrictions are set to come into effect on June 21. Let us know if these restrictions would affect your business. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ukraine/Russia Crisis - Electronics-Related Export Controls: Virtual, March 10. Join IPC for a discussion with Gary Stanley, president of Global Legal Services, on newly imposed sanctions and export controls related to the Russia/Ukraine conflict. IPC recommends that the electronics manufacturing industry review and understand the new export controls to ensure full compliance with them. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

 

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

 

What happens when the electronics manufacturing industry reconnects at a favorite in-person event? For in-depth coverage of IPC APEX EXPO 2022, I-Connect007’s Show & Tell issue covers the excitement, the enthusiasm, and the innovation of this special event.

In a set of reports released last week, the U.S. Government issued its strongest statements yet on the need to rebuild the U.S. electronics manufacturing ecosystem, including printed circuit boards (PCBs) and PCB assemblies. The U.S. Departments of Commerce and Defense reports quote extensively from IPC’s input to them.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

Meet the IPC GR Team: Whether it’s engaging with policymakers in Washington, D.C., in the European Union or in China, the IPC Government Relations (GR) Team proactively seeks opportunities to educate, inform and influence policymakers on policies that spur innovation, growth and competition, while protecting human health and the environment. But our success depends on your support and engagement. Learn more and get involved in IPC advocacy today! IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

 

Subscribe to IPC Global Advocacy Report: If you’re a member of IPC, manage your e-mail preferences and opt in to receive “Advocacy” updates. If you are not an IPC member — or you’re not sure — please send a note to friends@ipc.org, and our staff will add you to the list.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contact one of us if you have any questions or insights to contribute.

Tell us how government policies affect your business.

See prior editions of Global Advocacy Report.

Explore our IPC Government Relations information online.