Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations
The Headlines at a Glance:
TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
- Parliament Plans Votes on EU Chips Act
- IPC Builds Out Sustainability Initiative
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- IPC’s Matt Kelly Shares What EMS Companies Should Know About Advanced Packaging
IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU
- IPC Welcomes New Director of North American Government Relations
- How Can Government Help or Hurt You in 2023?
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
- IPC Responds to EPA on PFAS Reporting Requirements
- Commission to Consider Renewal of EU RoHS Exemptions
- EU Proceeds with Proposal to Ban Products Made with Forced Labor
TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
- Volatility and Uncertainty Expected in 2023
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
Parliament Plans Votes on EU Chips Act: European legislators are continuing to negotiate on legislation to bolster the bloc’s competitiveness and resilience in semiconductor technologies and applications. The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Resustainasearch, and Energy (ITRE) is currently leading the negotiations on the draft legislation, called the EU Chips Act, and is now preparing for a vote on January 24. The vote on the legislation will precede a wider parliament vote expected on February 13. IPC continues to actively participate in the process and is advocating for language that supports advanced packaging and promotes innovation in the electronics industry. IPC Contact: Alison James.
IPC Builds Out Sustainability Initiative: In 2022, IPC ’s Board of Directors approved a proposal to initiate an association-wide sustainability initiative. The initiative, called Sustainability for Electronics, will provide direction and ensure realistic and appropriate tools for the electronics manufacturing industry. We expect to provide regular communications to the industry including insights into emerging sustainability policies, details on the relevant and material sustainability topics, and information on the utility of existing IPC standards to achieve sustainability goals. Check out our new page to learn more and give it a follow on LinkedIn! IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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"Advanced packaging is critical because the combination of performance, reliability, cost, and functionality that future consumers are demanding can only be met by integrating silicon chips through an advanced packaging process."
– Technology Officer and Vice President, Technology Solutions Matt Kelly provides an in-depth look at advanced packaging and the approach EMS companies should consider in the latest issue of SMT007. |
IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU
IPC Welcomes New Director of North American Government Relations: IPC is pleased to welcome Jeffrey Goldberg as director of North American government relations in IPC’s Washington office. In this role, Jeff will help lead our ambitious North American policy agenda at a time of increased interest among policymakers in the electronics supply chain. During his career, Goldberg has done stints at the National Defense Industrial Association, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, Aerospace Industries Association, and U.S. Departments of Commerce and Defense. He’s been educated the U. of Virginia, Penn State, and Yale. Please connect with Jeff on LinkedIn, learn more about him in IPC’s press release, and drop him a line to share your advocacy concerns. IPC contact: Jeff Goldberg.
How Can Government Help or Hurt You in 2023? IPC is conducting a survey to gather information on the top concerns of electronics manufacturing industry members and how government policies can either help or hurt their companies in the next few years. The survey, which will help shape IPC's advocacy efforts in 2023, will only take a few minutes to complete and is a great opportunity for industry members to voice their concerns and shape future policies. Read a new IPC blog for more on our 2022 advocacy efforts and how you can get involved in 2023. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
IPC Responds to EPA on PFAS Reporting Requirements: IPC highlighted the costs and impacts of reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) in December 27 comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). IPC also cited complexities in electronics supply chains that would make the proposed reporting and recordkeeping difficult. The EPA’s Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) focused on cost estimates for the proposed rule — particularly its effect on small businesses. Let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia.
Commission to Consider Renewal of EU RoHS Exemptions: The Bio Innovation Service recently published their final report on the renewal of 11 exemptions to the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). The report notably recommended not to renew either exemptions 15 or 15(a), covering "lead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection between the semiconductor die and carrier with integrated circuit flip chip packages." The recommendations will now be considered by the EU Commission before it moves to formally revise the 11 exemptions, which is expected to occur later this year. We welcome your feedback regarding the report’s recommendations, and thank you to Keysight Technologies Product Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Director Robert Tait for sharing expert insights on this topic. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia.
EU Proceeds with Proposal to Ban Products Made with Forced Labor: The European Commission recently released a final version of a working document on prohibiting products in the EU market that are made with forced labor. The working document, which provides evidence and justification for the proposed policy, is linked to the forced labor initiative proposed in September 2022. The proposal is in line with EU’s efforts around due diligence, so we expect further discussions and decisions by policymakers in 2023. Read IPC’s recent blog for more on the goals and timeline of the initiative. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia.
TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
Volatility and Uncertainty Expected in 2023: IPC’s latest report on the global economic outlook suggests that COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, soaring global inflation rates, and recession fears were major contributors to the cloud of uncertainty and slower global economic growth we saw in 2022. We expect that volatility and uncertainty will continue to influence the narrative in the early months of the new year. For more on what might lie ahead, be sure to check out IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac’s Monthly Economic Outlook Report. IPC Contact: Shawn DuBravac.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Industry demand is holding up despite a deteriorating economic outlook, while high costs are continuing to create challenging conditions for electronics manufacturers, according to IPC’s December Global Sentiment Survey. The latest report shows that 76% of electronics manufacturers are experiencing rising material costs, while 73% indicate that labor costs are on the rise. Meanwhile, ease of recruitment and profit margins are declining. |
IPC has partnered with Auburn University to conduct a study that can significantly help our nation’s manufacturing industries, and we would like your help. Auburn’s Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) is working to help manufacturers engage with technology to improve competitiveness and profitability. If you have questions, please contact the Auburn ICAMS team.
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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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