Dear IPC Members: Your IPC Government Relations team is continuing to advocate for you to ensure the industry’s competitiveness and resilience. We’re closely monitoring upcoming legislation that would provide much needed policy support for the overlooked U.S. printed circuit board (PCB) sector. I spoke with Politico this week about why such funding is necessary and how it can help create a more resilient, secure supply chain.

Please enjoy your weekly, Friday afternoon, five-minute update on the latest government policy developments affecting electronics.

All the best,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK 

• EU-U.S. Tech Council to Address Supply Chain Resilience

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

• IPC’s Chris Mitchell Comments on Lack of U.S. Policy Support for PCBs

IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU

• Tell Congress: A Robust U.S. Electronics Industry is in the National Interest!

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

• EPA Reopens Comment Period on 20 Toxic Substances
• Lead Included on Draft List for REACH Authorization
• Consultation Opens on the General Review of the RoHS Directive
• Commission Opens Consultation on a New Regulation for Sustainable Products

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

• Competitiveness Legislation Makes Progress in U.S. Congress
• Geopolitical Uncertainty Affects Electronics Manufacturers Worldwide

UPCOMING EVENTS

• USMCA Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise 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

EU-U.S. Tech Council to Address Supply Chain Resilience: Supply chain resilience is set to be a main topic of the second meeting of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC), coming up on May 15-16 in France. Ahead of the upcoming meeting, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has invited stakeholders to provide input on how to advance supply chain resilience and security in key sectors, including semiconductors. The comment period is open until May 23. 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. IPC Contact: Alison James.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“China has made a strategic decision to support the growth of this industry, [while the United States has not made even a] “modest commitment.” – Chris Mitchell, IPC vice president of global government relations, spoke with Politico this week on the historical lack of U.S. policy support for manufacturing of printed circuit boards (PCBs), compared to the concerted efforts of China.

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

EPA Reopens Comment Period on 20 Toxic Substances: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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 electronics manufacturing industry to submit information that would help inform the risk evaluation processes for these chemicals, some of which have relevance to electronics manufacturing processes and products. 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.

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 prepared a draft response to the public consultation to provide industry insights on the potential socio-economic effects of an authorization. The consultation closes May 2. Please let us know if you would like to learn more about IPC’s position on this policy activity. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Consultation Opens on General Review of RoHS Directive: The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the general review of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, including evaluation of the criteria and timelines for exemptions. The RoHS Directive, which aims to protect human health and the environment and maximize recovery of certain hazardous substances after their use, remains one of the most important policies shaping electronics manufacturing. The deadline for comment is June 2. IPC will coordinate a response to this questionnaire, and we invite your engagement with us. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Commission Opens Consultation on New Regulation for Sustainable Products: The European Commission has opened a public consultation on a regulation that would repeal the existing Ecodesign Directive and establish a new framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. The proposed regulation notably includes requirements for identifying substances of concern across a product life cycle and information requirements, including a digital product passport. The consultation is open through June 10. IPC welcomes your feedback on the proposed regulation. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Competitiveness Legislation Makes Progress in U.S. Congress: The U.S. House recently approved a motion 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.

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-sized 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

Help IPC take the “pulse” of the global electronics manufacturing industry by participating in this month’s global sentiment survey, now open. You’ll get the results free of charge when the survey is completed.		Kudos to Brendan Bordelon of POLITICO for covering a crucial aspect of the USICA, America COMPETES, and CHIPS Act story – that Congress must support and invest in all parts of the electronics manufacturing ecosystem if it wants to create a more resilient, secure supply chain.

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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