IPC Global Advocacy Report
2/21/25

Dear [Colleague]:

For the fifth week in a row, U.S. trade policy developments are top-of-mind for IPC and many of our members. The quick highlights:

President Trump this week warned new tariffs are coming on autos and semiconductors, two sectors that are very intertwined with electronics manufacturing.

The New York Times quoted IPC’s John Mitchell on the potential negative impacts of the rising tariffs and the need for other pro-growth policies as well.

U.S. Rep. Norma Torres included IPC in a discussion on the impact of trade policies on California’s manufacturers.

And the European Commission published a Q&A on the U.S. reciprocal tariff plan.

More details and links are below. 

Meanwhile, the most stimulating highlight of our week was our EMS Leadership Public Policy Roundtable in Washington, where EMS executives learned about and lobbied on hot issues including trade, workforce, and supply chain resilience.

As always, we welcome your insights and questions. Thank you for being a part of IPC’s global advocacy efforts!

Chris Mitchell 
Vice President, Global Government Relations 

 

The Headlines at a Glance:

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

UNiTED STATES

EUROPEAN UNION

ASIA

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

OTHER HEADLINES IN THE NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

 

Another Week of U.S. Tariff Threats with Consequences for Electronics: This week, U.S. President Donald Trump maintained a high tempo on trade policy by announcing plans for a 25% tariff on imports of autos and semiconductors, two key sectors that are intertwined with the electronics manufacturing industry. The tariffs may be officially announced on April 2, following a review of trade policies set to conclude by April 1. The administration has indicated these tariffs may be implemented in stages to allow companies time to shift some operations to the U.S.  

Meanwhile, the New York Times noted the recent statement by IPC President and CEO John W. Mitchell, in which he warned “new tariffs will raise manufacturing costs, disrupt supply chains, and drive production offshore, further weakening America’s electronics industrial base.” Mitchell’s balanced statement added that “it is critical to minimize the duration and impact of tariffs on the domestic industry, while advancing pro-growth policies that drive capital investment.” Check out the full statement, and if you agree, please like and share the LinkedIn post by John Mitchell.

IPC will continue to engage with the administration and Congress to promote solutions that support long-term growth in the domestic electronics sector. Keep track of all the relevant official trade policies along with IPC analysis on our trade policy webpage; and please take our 3-minute survey to let us know how these actions are affecting your company. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

U.S. Rep Invites IPC Views on Trade and Manufacturing in So. California: This week, a key member of Congress invited IPC to join a discussion on how recent U.S. trade actions are impacting manufacturing in Southern California.  U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, spoke with IPC’s Richard Cappetto and guests from California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC), a nonprofit corporation that provides consulting services to small and medium-sized manufacturers in the state. Cappetto highlighted our industry’s strong presence in the regional economy and its far-reaching national and global economic impacts. With members of Rep. Torres’ staff having attended IPC APEX EXPO last year, IPC is continuing to build on this relationship and our shared goals of driving growth and innovation in the industry. IPC Contact: Richard Cappetto.

European Commission Publishes Q&A on U.S. Tariff Policies: The European Commission this week published a set of questions and answers on the "reciprocal tariff” plan recently announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Under the policy, the U.S. would impose countermeasures against any U.S. trading partner whose policies are deemed to have negative impacts on U.S. businesses. The Q&A covers questions including, “Does the EU have a trade surplus vis-à-vis the US? What is the current average tariff rate charged by the EU on imports from the US, and vice versa? And does the U.S. have a point about an asymmetry in tariffs?” Please let us know if you have any comments or questions about recent U.S. trade policy moves. IPC Contact: Alison James.

 
 
“President Trump’s trade policies are enormously important to U.S. electronics manufacturers, most of whom necessarily rely on complex global supply chains to support their domestic operations. These supply chains are established, optimized, and trusted. Relocating them can be costly and slow and will pose risks to the quality and reliability of the electronics they produce. … To ensure the long-term growth and resilience of the domestic electronics sector, it is critical to minimize the duration and impact of tariffs on the domestic industry, while advancing pro-growth policies that drive capital investment [such as] extending President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, incentivizing domestic sourcing, fostering innovation, and enhancing national security."

– Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC President, outlining IPC’s views on tariffs.

 

IPC's EMS Leadership Roundtable in Washington, D.C.: This week, IPC brought together electronics manufacturing services (EMS) leaders in Washington, D.C., for a two-day EMS Leadership Public Policy Roundtable. Day One featured expert-led presentations and in-depth discussions on economic trends, tariffs, taxes, and workforce development. Day Two was organized around a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, where IPC members met with 15 congressional offices including the Ways and Means Committee and House Republican Conference. Altogether, industry leaders had the opportunity to voice concerns, build relationships, and shape IPC’s advocacy agenda. IPC remains committed to raising the voices of EMS businesses at the highest levels of government. Read more about the event in this IPC Blog, and discover how to get more involved in industry advocacy on the IPC Advocacy homepage .  IPC Contact: Richard Cappetto.

 

European Commission Launches Initiative to Boost AI Investment: The European Commission has launched the groundbreaking InvestAI initiative, a bold and ambitious program designed to drive AI innovation and economic growth across the European Union. With a goal of mobilizing an impressive €200 billion in AI investments, this initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Announced last week by EC President Ursula von der Leyen, the initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s AI capabilities by financing four future AI gigafactories. Under the plan, the EU will contribute €50 billion, with the remaining funds to be pledged by private providers, investors, and industry stakeholders. InvestAI is part of the Commission’s broader strategy to enhance Europe’s technological leadership and ensure AI development aligns with European values and regulatory frameworks. The initiative signals the EU’s commitment to fostering AI innovation, supporting industrial transformation, and maintaining competitiveness in the global AI landscape. Read more here. IPC Contact: Alison James.

 

IPC Launching Quarterly Leadership Roundtable in Tokyo: In 2025, IPC is expanding its presence in Japan with a dynamic new initiative, quarterly roundtable discussions designed to strengthen collaboration between Japanese companies, government officials, and industry leaders. These high-level dialogues will provide a platform to explore critical issues shaping the electronics industry. The first roundtable, set for March 5, will tackle the timely topic of “U.S.-Japan Relations Under Trump 2.0.” Featured speakers include IPC CEO John Mitchell, a fluent Japanese speaker, and Akira Amari, a former member of Japan’s House of Representatives, offering valuable insights into the future of bilateral trade and technological cooperation. To join this in-person event in Tokyo on March 5, please contact IPC’s Chris Mitchell.   

 

IPC Members Invited to Participate in New PFAS Survey: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and its committees have highlighted concerns regarding PFAS emissions from fluoropolymers, particularly during manufacturing and waste disposal. In response, the Fluoropolymer Group of Plastics Europe has commissioned consulting firm Ramboll to assess waste management practices, including incineration, landfilling, and recycling. To support this effort, Ramboll has developed an online survey to collect critical data. Your participation is essential in shaping future discussions and decision-making. Contact IPC’s Diana Radovan by 14 March to gain access to the survey.  

 

IPC Roundtable: “U.S.-Japan Relations Under Trump 2.0” (Tokyo), March 5: Join IPC in the first of a new quarterly series of roundtable discussions aimed at strengthening collaboration between Japanese companies, government officials, and electronics manufacturing industry leaders. To learn more, contact IPC’s Chris Mitchell.   

IPC APEX EXPO 2025 (Anaheim, California), Mar. 15-20: Discover the newest innovations and hear from the best minds in the electronics manufacturing industry. IPC APEX EXPO 2025 will be our industry’s largest event in North America, featuring a world-class trade show, professional development courses taught by industry experts, non-stop networking and more. Learn more and register here. 

 

Snapshot: Stat of the Week: IPC members responded to this survey question: Will the new U.S. tariffs affect your business? For further information on how U.S. tariffs impact IPC members, visit our trade policy page.

Yesterday, IPC and EMS leaders visited Capitol Hill to champion policies strengthening electronics manufacturing. We engaged with lawmakers, including Senators Gary Peters, Ted Budd, Maria Cantwell, and Bernie Moreno, as well as Representatives Eric Sorensen, Johnny Olszewski, and Michael Turner on key issues like workforce development, trade, tax reform, and supply chain resilience.

KEEP IN TOUCH & JOIN OUR EFFORTS

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.

In the U.S., take IPC’s five-minute public opinion survey and contact your elected officials via the IPC Action Alert Center.

Peruse our global Advocacy pages on IPC.org or our European pages on IPC.org and LinkedIn.

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