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Dear IPC Members:
Electronics are at the heart of the economy, and government should provide a favorable policy framework to reflect the industry’s strategic importance.
This is something IPC has been trumpeting for many years, and here in the United States, policymakers seem to be taking notice. Progress continues to be made on legislation to improve domestic manufacturing and competitiveness, while new legislation is in the works to bolster the printed circuit board (PCB) sector. |
As always, here’s your weekly five-minute update on current government policy actions that may affect your business. Please let us know if you have any government-related questions or concerns.
All the best,
Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations
The Headlines at a Glance:
TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
- Competitiveness Legislation Makes Progress in U.S. Congress
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- IPC’s Shawn DuBravac Comments on Impact of Russia/Ukraine War
IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU
- Tell Congress: A Robust U.S. Electronics Industry Is in the National Interest!
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
- Lead Included on Draft List for REACH Authorization
- IPC Shares Input on Proposed Changes to RoHS Directive
- EPA Reopens Comments on 20 Toxic Substances
- Saudi Arabia RoHS Regulation Set for July Implementation
EUROPEAN UNION
- EU Institutions Hold Negotiations on CSRD
TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
- Geopolitical Uncertainty Affects Electronics Manufacturers Worldwide
UPCOMING EVENTS
- USMCA SME Dialogue
- How PFAS Policies Affect the Electronics Industry
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
Competitiveness Legislation Makes Progress in U.S. Congress: The U.S. House approved a motion this week to begin negotiating with the U.S. Senate on the final version of a bill that will provide much-needed funding for semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced technologies. The legislation includes $52 billion in CHIPS Act funding as well as additional measures to boost domestic research and development (R&D). IPC urges Congress to complete and pass this legislation, and we will continue to work with the Biden administration and Congress to strengthen America’s semiconductor supply chain, including advanced packaging, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and related sectors. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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“European and U.S. economies, at least for now, are on solid footing and well-positioned to weather the negative shock of the war, but growth will be hindered.”
–Shawn DuBravac, IPC chief economist, comments on new IPC data showing the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on electronics manufacturing. |
IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU
Tell Congress: A Robust U.S. Electronics Industry Is in the National Interest: Encouraging the U.S. government to take a holistic approach to rebuilding its domestic electronics manufacturing ecosystem is the central theme of IPC’s IMPACT Washington Advocacy Campaign. If you agree, please visit the IPC Online Advocacy Center now to tell your Members of Congress to help secure federal support for the entire electronics supply chain. It only takes a minute and has a real impact! IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
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Lead Included on Draft List for REACH Authorization: Lead (Pb) metal is one of eight substances included in a draft list of substances being considered for inclusion on the Authorization List (Annex XIV) of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. IPC is preparing to respond to the public consultation by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which closes on May 2, to provide industry insights on the potential socio-economic effects should Pb be added. Let us know if you would like to learn more. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
IPC Shares Input on Proposed Changes to RoHS Directive: On March 14, IPC submitted comments to the European Commission’s call for evidence for an impact assessment on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive and how it affects electronics. IPC also supported the response from the RoHS Industry Umbrella Project. In other RoHS-related news, the commission also opened a public consultation through June 2 on a general review of the directive. IPC will coordinate a response to this questionnaire, and we invite your engagement with us. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
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.
Saudi Arabia RoHS Regulation Set for July Implementation: Saudi Arabia’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)-like regulation will now be implemented in phases beginning July 4, and electronics manufacturers will want to take note. The regulation, which was set to take effect in January, aims to restrict the use of hazardous substances in electronic and electrical equipment (EEEs) and will require “conformity assessment procedures” to ensure environmental and human health safety. Let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
EUROPEAN UNION
EU Institutions Hold Negotiations on CSRD: On March 28, the EU Commission, Parliament, and Council held their first negotiations on the proposal for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which seeks to strengthen the reporting requirements for sustainability information of certain large companies. The EU institutions agreed in allowing companies an additional year to comply with the new rules, with the first reports due in 2025. The next trialogue is scheduled for April 7, while a final agreement on the directive is expected by June. IPC Contact: Alison James.
TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
Geopolitical Uncertainty Affects Electronics Manufacturers Worldwide: According to the latest data from IPC, the electronics manufacturing supply chain is already feeling the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. IPC’s April Monthly Economic Update and Global Sentiment Survey found that 80% of manufacturers expect the war to have a negative impact on commodity prices and transportation costs, while 70% anticipate a negative impact on the stock of raw materials. Read more in EP&T Magazine, and let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Shawn DuBravac.
UPCOMING EVENTS
How PFAS Policies Affect the Electronics Industry: Virtual, April 21. IPC is hosting a free webinar to provide information on emerging chemical and product regulations and the complex nature of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in electronics. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
USMCA SME Dialogue: Virtual, April 22. The first United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) small and medium enterprise (SME) webinar will highlight the benefits of the USMCA trade agreement for small businesses and explore ways that SMEs can benefit from increased trade and investment between the three countries. Register here. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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“As an industry, we need to ensure we provide the building blocks today, not at some future date.” Matt Kelly, IPC chief technologist, talks to I-Connect007 about factory automation, digitization, and collecting and using data to its fullest to achieve advancements in global electronics manufacturing. |
How are PFAS used in electronics manufacturing, and how will future regulations of PFAS affect the way you do business? Join Kelly Scanlon, IPC director, EHS policy and research, on April 21 as she leads a free webinar to provide you with a detailed overview of this complex issue. |
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.
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