– IPC President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell in a statement on this week’s U.S. trade policy actions

North American Trade Tensions Remain High: The state of North American trade and tariff policies remains tense, with our industry caught in the middle. On Tuesday, the U.S. officially implemented 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada; on Wednesday, President Trump exempted automakers from the levies; and on Thursday, he suspended all such levies for one month, but only on goods covered by the 2020 U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). As the Wall Street Journal reports, that “leaves a lot of goods still subject to the new 25% tariff levels." IPC is intensively studying the potential impacts of any new tariffs on the electronics industry.

On another front, President Trump has ordered a review of copper imports, signaling potential new tariffs on a key material for circuit boards, wiring, and semiconductor components.

IPC President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell issued a statement praising the decision to pause the Canada and Mexico tariffs and inviting the Trump administration to work with us to protect the progress made in revitalizing U.S. electronics manufacturing since President Trump’s first term.

More than 10 percent of all trade with Canada and Mexico last year was in electronics, amounting to $184 billion. And both countries are major destinations for U.S. electronics exports with nearly one-third of all U.S. electronics exports headed to Canada or Mexico – roughly $80 billion in 2024. 

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 let us know how these actions are affecting your company. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.   

Apple Announces $500B Investment in U.S. Manufacturing: Last week, Apple announced plans to invest $500 billion in the United States over the next five years, significantly expanding its commitment to U.S. manufacturing and innovation. The investment includes opening a new server factory in Houston, establishing a manufacturing academy in Detroit, and expanding data centers across seven states. Apple’s pledge also reinforces U.S.-based semiconductor production, following confirmation that TSMC’s Arizona facility has begun chip production for Apple products. The announcement has implications for the U.S. electronics industry, potentially reshaping supply chains and creating up to 20,000 new jobs in engineering, R&D, and AI. Globally, Apple's investment could set a precedent for increased onshore manufacturing and resilience. IPC will continue monitoring these developments and advocating for a strong and innovative electronics manufacturing ecosystem in all countries. IPC Contact: Richard Cappetto. 

European Commission Unveils Automotive Action Plan: This week, the European Commission launched its Automotive Action Plan, outlining a vision for the industry’s evolution over the next five to 10 years. The plan is centered on five “pillars”: innovation and digitalisation; “clean mobility”; competitiveness and supply chain resilience; skills and the social dimension; and market and trade policy. IPC submitted comments to the “strategic dialogue” that preceded the action plan, emphasizing the critical role of a resilient European electronics industry in supporting the automotive sector’s needs. IPC supports well integrated strategies that bolster industrial competitiveness amid geopolitical shifts. Please let us know your thoughts on the Automotive Action Plan, and learn more here. IPC contact:  Alison James.

IPC Kicks Off Quarterly Leadership Roundtable in Tokyo: This week, IPC successfully launched its new Quarterly Leadership Roundtable series in Tokyo, bringing together more than 60 leaders of Japanese companies and government agencies for high-level discussions on the most pressing issues in our industry. The featured speakers, including IPC CEO John Mitchell, who is fluent in Japanese, and Akira Amari, a former member of Japan’s House of Representatives, provided valuable insights into the future of bilateral trade, technological cooperation, and the evolving global supply chain. The Tokyo Leadership Roundtables will continue throughout the year, fostering deeper collaboration between industry and government in one of the world’s most critical electronics markets. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming sessions. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.     

EC Reg Reforms Seek to Boost Sustainability, Competitiveness: Last week, the European Commission (EC) released two omnibus regulations and a new “Clean Industrial Plan,” aimed at streamlining sustainability requirements and investment rules across the European Union. The omnibus regulations aimed to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25% overall, and up to 35% for SMEs, generating €6.3 billion in cost savings and unlocking €50 billion in additional public and private investment. By simplifying sustainability reporting, due diligence obligations, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the package seeks to balance regulatory compliance with business growth. 

As part of this effort, the first omnibus package proposed by the European Commission on 26 February included draft delegated acts amending the Taxonomy Disclosures and the Taxonomy Climate and Environmental Delegated Acts. These drafts are open for public consultation until 26 March and include amendments designed to make reporting simpler and more cost-effective for companies.

Meanwhile, the Clean Industrial Plan aims to “accelerate decarbonisation while securing the future of manufacturing in Europe.” Amid a long list of measures, it includes an Action Plan on Affordable Energy and anticipated plans for the automotive, steel, and chemical industries. 

IPC welcomed the proposals as “steps in the right direction” but emphasized that more must be done to simplify due diligence requirements and strengthen industrial competitiveness. As the various proposals advance, IPC will continue to advocate for policies that truly promote both sustainability and a thriving European electronics manufacturing industry. IPC Contacts: Diana Radovan on sustainability,  Alison James  in Brussels.

U.S. EPA Extends Comment Deadline on PFAS Notification Rule: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently extended the public comment period for its proposed rule that clarifies when companies must inform customers if their mixtures or trade name products contain PFAS substances listed on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Initially introduced on January 17, the rule is designed to improve transparency in chemical reporting. Stakeholders now have until March 24 to submit their comments. IPC is closely monitoring this development and encourages members to review the proposal and provide input to ensure industry concerns are considered. For more information, follow this link or contact IPC’s Diana Radovan.  

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.   

Chris Mitchell says, “The European Commission's latest regulatory reforms to ease administrative burdens and its Clean Industrial Plan provide new opportunities for its electronics manufacturing sector to thrive, but only if they are implemented with urgency and clarity.”

Stat of the Week: According to IPC’s February Sentiment of the Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Report, labor and material costs continue to rise while the outlook for shipments, orders, backlogs, and capacity utilization is expected to improve.