Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

• The U.S. is Equipping its Armed Forces with Less than the Very Best Technologies

DEFENSE & SECURITY

• U.S. Congress Making Mixed Progress on Defense Electronics
• IPC Supports Senator Wicker’s Defense Tech Investment Plan

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• EPA Proposes New Regulations for NMP Use

EUROPEAN UNION

• IPC Presses EU Governments on ‘Silicon-to-Systems’ Strategic Concerns
• EU Should Use More ‘Subsidies and Tariffs,’ Top Official Says

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Bold Breakthroughs: Women Reshaping the Engineering Landscape, Webinar (June 24)
• Chemical Management for Electronics USA: Boston, Mass. and Virtual (June 24-25)

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This is not a matter for tomorrow. The U.S. today is equipping its men and women in uniform with less than the very best technologies because key segments of the electronics manufacturing sector do not have manufacturing capabilities that are state-of-the-practice in Asia.” — IPC’s Chris Mitchell, in an interview with SMT007 Magazine.

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

U.S. Congress Making Mixed Progress on Defense Electronics: The U.S. Congress has taken a few steps forward on its annual defense legislation with mixed results for defense electronics. On the plus side, the House of Representatives passed its version of the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and language in the committee report accompanying the bill shows a continuing commitment to strengthening domestic electronics manufacturing. In multiple passages, the Armed Services Committee urges support for integrated circuit (IC) substrate investment; pushes the Pentagon to accelerate efforts to move the PCB supply chain to secure sources; urges the prioritization of Defense Production Act purchases for printed circuit boards and substrates; and requests briefings from the DOD on progress related to securing the supply chain for display technology. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee has reportedly completed action on their version of NDAA, but we haven’t seen the numbers yet. Once the full Senate passes its version, a House-Senate conference committee will resolve any differences. On the minus side, the early action on the FY25 defense spending bills contains no funding for PCBs under the Defense Production Act. In case you missed it, a recent article by IPC’s Rich Cappetto and PCBAA’s David Schild in Defense Opinion explains the situation and how a lack of funding to address U.S. shortfalls in electronic components related to semiconductors could undermine national security and the success of the CHIPS and Science Act. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

IPC Supports Senator Wicker’s Defense Tech Investment Plan: U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-Miss.), the Ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently proposed a significant investment plan aimed at bolstering the U.S. defense industrial base. This plan, described as “a generational investment,” emphasizes expansion and robust funding of the Defense Production Act (DPA) and Industrial Base Alignment and Sustainment (IBAS) programs, particularly focusing on strengthening the defense supplier base. New efforts would include addressing shortages in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and circuit board assemblies. IPC views the Wicker proposal as a smart strategy to rebuild the electronics supply chain with a “silicon-to-systems” approach, not solely concentrating on semiconductor chips. IPC commends Senator Wicker's proposal and urges Congress to adopt the plan. Read Senator Wicker's news release announcing his investment plan, and read the plan in its entirety. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

EPA Proposes New Regulations for NMP Use: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this month proposed a ban on certain uses of the solvent N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and strict workplace requirements for other uses. The pre-publication version of the draft risk management rule is currently available for review, and a 45-day public comment period will begin once it is published in the Federal Register. NMP is integral to the manufacture of semiconductors and lithium-ion batteries, both of which are specifically addressed in the draft rule. The EPA will host a public webinar on June 20 at 1:00 pm EDT to discuss the proposed regulations. Read the announcement from the EPA; register for the webinar here; and let us know how this rule might impact your operations. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

EUROPEAN UNION

IPC Presses EU Governments on ‘Silicon-to-Systems’ Strategic Concerns: In Brussels and beyond, IPC and the European electronics manufacturing industry are continuing to make the case for a “silicon-to-systems” industrial strategy. Last week, IPC published a new report in partnership with DECISION and IN4MA, “Securing the European Union’s Electronics Ecosystem,” which predicts a further drop in Europe’s global market share and rising risks to an array of critical sectors including aerospace and defense. IPC also issued a “Call-to-Action” with support from more than 30 companies and 15 trade associations, all urging the adoption of an Electronics Manufacturing Strategy under the European Commission’s next five-year mandate, backed by investments and policies to reduce EU dependencies in areas such as semiconductors, health, and digital technologies, echoing recent European Council conclusions. IPC invites everyone with an interest in EU electronics manufacturing to read IPC’s press release, review the report, and support the industry Call-to-Action. IPC Contact: Alison James

EU Should Use More ‘Subsidies and Tariffs,’ Top Official Says: In a speech on June 14, former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi provided a preview of his upcoming report on EU competitiveness, to be published in July. Draghi urged the EU to use “subsidies and tariffs to offset unfair advantages created by industrial policies and real exchange rate devaluations abroad,” warning that the bloc’s approach should, however, be “pragmatic, cautious and consistent.” Read the full report in Politico. The pending report forms part of the lead-up to the next European Commission mandate as new teams and priorities are formed for the coming five years. IPC Contact: Alison James.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bold Breakthroughs: Women Reshaping the Engineering Landscape: Webinar (June 24, 10:00-11:00 am EDT) – Join IPC for this special virtual event in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day. This event will shine a spotlight on the incredible women in the electronics industry who are breaking barriers, making bold breakthroughs, and paving the way for future generations. Led by IPC’s Teresa Rowe, Senior Director of Assembly & Standards Technology, panelists include eight extraordinary women from eight different countries. Register today for FREE!

Chemical Management for Electronics USA: Boston, Mass. and Virtual (June 24-25) – What is the risk evaluation and management status of high-priority chemicals relevant to electronics manufacturers? Kelly Scanlon, IPC’s lead sustainability strategist, will provide details in her presentation, “Where TSCA and Electronics Manufacturing Intersect: The Essential Voice of Industry,” on June 24. IPC sponsors this two-day conference focusing on the complex and changing landscape of chemicals management for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in the United States and beyond. IPC members, use code IPC15 for a 15% discount when registering.

PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SHARE" OUR LINKEDIN POSTS

Signing off from the Electronics Goes Green 2024 Conference in Berlin, Germany. What a great event! Three-plus days of presentations and workshops. So many ideas and creative people working towards addressing sustainability for electronics. Thank you to Fraunhofer IZM for hosting a productive convening. I am looking forward to carrying forward many new professional connections and I will be following up with colleagues.

IPC Impact Day Recap with Richard Cappetto. We spoke with Rich Cappetto, senior director of North American government relations at IPC, about the importance of the event and what it means for the greater PCB industry. He also highlighted an important change: There will be several IPC Impact Days throughout the year to allow smaller groups of industry professionals to visit Washington more often with a more targeted message.

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 LinkedIn posts by IPC and/or any of us individually.

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.