Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK 

• IPC Applauds Biden Executive Order on Apprenticeships
• Biden’s Address Touches on Issues of Importance to Electronics Manufacturing

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

• On the CHIPS and Science Act and the Rest of the Electronics Supply Chain

TECHNOLOGY 

• Another Co-sponsor Signs on to the PCB Act
• IPC Applauds Funding Opportunity for Advanced Packaging Technologies
• U.S. Commerce Secretary Again Sees Beyond Just Chips
• European Commission Spotlights Advanced Materials in New Report

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

• SEC Adopts New Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors
• ECHA’s Call for Industry Feedback on Flame Retardants May Impact REACH Regulations
• Express Your Interest in No-Cost Chemical Management Training
• Japan Seeks Public Input on Designating PFOA Compounds as Hazardous

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Navigating Plastics Use and Management in the Electronics Value Chain (Webinar), March 27
• IPC APEX EXPO 2024, April 6-11

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

IPC Applauds Biden Executive Order on Apprenticeships: As the largest workforce education provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC applauds U.S. President Joe Biden’s new Executive Order aimed at expanding apprenticeships across the United States. The order directs the federal government to expand apprenticeships within its own ranks and encourage industry to do the same through procurement and grant incentives. The action follows the U.S. Department of Labor’s approval last November of IPC’s National Program Standards of Apprenticeship – the first-ever in the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry. Closing the workforce gap with speed and scale is essential for the electronics manufacturing industry, where tens of thousands of new workers will be needed over the next decade. Watch for additional IPC action in this area, coming soon. Check out the White House fact sheet here. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

Biden’s Address Touches on Issues of Importance to Electronics Manufacturing: In his State of the Union address, President Biden touched on several key issues impacting the electronics manufacturing industry, from the CHIPS program to Buy American policies and workforce education. In response, IPC underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to the electronics supply chain, emphasizing collaboration and resilience. Regarding the president’s call for industry to do more on workforce education and training, IPC is already doing it, and we would welcome more government. Stay engaged with IPC as we continue to advocate for the interests of the global electronics manufacturing community. Read the transcript of the address and register to join a post-address briefing on the Biden-Harris Economic Agenda on Monday, March 11 at 10:30 am ET, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The U.S. is increasingly arming its warfighters with inferior military technologies because it cannot domestically produce the most advanced printed circuit boards to accommodate the most cutting-edge semiconductor chips. Without greater investment in domestic PCB capabilities, the disparity between U.S. semiconductor leadership and electronics manufacturing vulnerabilities will grow.” – Chris Mitchell, IPC Vice President of Global Government Relations, on the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and the need to bolster the entire electronics supply chain. Read more in Fierce Electronics.

TECHNOLOGY

Another Co-sponsor Signs on to the PCB Act: U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) this week joined on as the ninth co-sponsor of H.R. 3249, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act. Rep. Williams represents a district that includes Syracuse, New York and which is home to several IPC member sites. He serves on three important committees including the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Committee on Education and Workforce, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. We’re pleased that Congressman Williams has joined on in support of the bill and look forward to engaging with his office on building a robust electronics ecosystem in North America. Is your Member of Congress a co-sponsor? IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

IPC Applauds U.S. Government Funding Opportunity for Advanced Packaging Technologies: IPC is applauding the issuance of a notice of funding opportunity by the CHIPS for America R&D Office, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), allocatingfor R&D on advanced packaging substrates and materials. It’s a milestone in the effort to enhance U.S. supply chain resilience and to revive U.S. leadership in electronics manufacturing. Funding will be available for projects that accelerate domestic R&D, translate innovations into manufacturing, and stimulate workforce development. These priorities align with IPC's advocacy for a “silicon-to-systems" approach to implementing the CHIPS and Science Act. Read the IPC news release. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Sees Beyond Just Chips: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo once again demonstrated that she sees the entire electronics supply chain, not just chips, as crucial to U.S. prosperity and security. During a recent event in DC on the CHIPS and Science Act, hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Raimondo called for bringing “the entire supply chain” for semiconductors to the United States and predicted that by 2030, the United States will be “the only country in the world where you can invent new chip architecture, design, manufacture, and package the chips, all in America.” IPC’s Rich Cappetto had a chance to speak with her briefly and reinforced her awareness of the role of electronic interconnection technologies, as well as IPC’s efforts to foster a skilled workforce in our industry. Kudos to the CSIS and the CHIPS Office for collaborating on this insightful event. Watch Secretary Raimondo’s remarks or read the full transcript. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

European Commission Spotlights Advanced Materials in New Report: The European Commission has unveiled a new report on advanced materials, outlining its proposed strategy to cultivate industrial leadership through Research and Innovation (R&I) and widespread deployment. The strategy aims to bolster the EU's long-term competitiveness by supporting the development, testing, and implementation of these materials. IPC provided industry insights to the European Commission to inform the development of this communication. Our contributions underscored the indispensable “silicon-to-systems” framework, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the electronics sector's requirements. For more on what this means to our industry, read the IPC Blog. IPC Contact: Alison James.

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

SEC Adopts New Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors:  On March 6, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the adoption of new rules aimed at enhancing and standardizing climate-related disclosures for public companies and in public offerings. The SEC said the regulation responds to investor demand for more consistent, comparable, and reliable information about the financial impacts of climate-related risks and how companies manage them. Under the regulation, registrants will be required to disclose climate-related risks, mitigation activities, and impacts on financial estimates and assumptions. The SEC considered over 24,000 comment letters before finalizing these rules, which will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Compliance dates will be phased in. To better understand what these rules may mean for your company, SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw offered these detailed comments. IPC invites you to tell us how this rule will affect your operations. IPC Contact:  Kelly Scanlon.

ECHA’s Call for Industry Feedback on Flame Retardants May Impact REACH Regulations: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is requesting comments and evidence about the uses ofaromatic brominated flame retardants. The information will be used to support a decision on whether ECHA will prepare a restriction dossier for these chemicals under the REACH Regulation. The ECHA is interested in contributions from manufacturers, suppliers, downstream users, importers, and alternative suppliers. Participation from the electronics manufacturing industry is crucial to demonstrate the uses, availability of alternatives, and actual volumes of aromatic brominated flame retardants used in products. The deadline for input is May 4. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Express Your Interest in No-Cost Chemical Management Training. The Clean Electronics Product Network (CEPN) is seeking electronics brands and suppliers to participate in free in-person or virtual beta testing of chemical safety training for workers and management in electronics manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Malaysia. The deadline for letters of interest is March 15. IPC members may learn more about this opportunity and express their interest or ask questions by contacting CEPN. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Japan Seeks Public Input on Designating PFOA Compounds as Hazardous: Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of Environment (MoE) are considering amendments to the Enforcement Ordinance of the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). The proposed revisions would designate PFOA isomers, their salts, and PFOA-related compounds (perfluorooctyl iodide and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol) as Class I Specified Chemical Substances, which are known to persist in the environment, posing long-term health risks to humans. If these changes are approved, businesses will need permission to make or bring these substances into Japan in accordance with the CSCL. Beginning this winter, products containing these chemicals won't be allowed to be imported, including anti-reflective agents utilized in semiconductor manufacturing. The public input period ended today. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Navigating Plastics Use and Management in the Electronics Value Chain (Webinar): March 27, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT. Join IPC and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) for an insightful webinar on navigating plastics use and management in the electronics value chain. With experts from the U.S. State Department and Beveridge & Diamond, this event will delve into environmental and regulatory considerations, global treaties, and implications for product design and manufacturing practices. Register today!

IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Anaheim, Calif., April 6-11. The largest electronics manufacturing event in North America, APEX features the newest innovations and the best minds in the industry. APEX 2024 will also host the Electronic Circuits World Convention 16, an international PCB symposium held every three years, featuring the latest information on global PCB demand, PCB manufacturing processes, and promoting the domestic PCB industry in every country and every region. Register by TODAY for a 20% discount!

PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SHARE" OUR LINKEDIN POSTS

		Join us in Anaheim, California, April 6-11 as IPC APEX EXPO hosts the Electronic Circuits World Convention 16 (#ECWC16) technical conference and offers you countless opportunities to update your technical education at the premier event in the U.S. for electronics manufacturing.
As the electronics manufacturing industry’s largest workforce education provider, IPC applauds President Biden’s Executive Order issued today aimed at expanding apprenticeships across the United States. In addition to affirming the administration’s policy of promoting apprenticeships to meet employer needs, today’s Executive Order directs the federal government to expand apprenticeships within its own ranks and encourage industry to do the same through procurement and #grantincentives.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US 

Meet the IPC GR Team: Whether it is engaging with policymakers in the Americas, the European Union, or Asia, 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.   

Follow, like and share us on X and LinkedIn.

Take IPC’s five-minute public opinion survey and contact your elected officials via the IPC Action Alert Center. 

Peruse our Advocacy pages on IPC.org.

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

Check out the latest edition of IPC Community, which spotlights IPC’s members and global activities.

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