The following statement can be attributed to John Mitchell, IPC president and CEO:“We are pleased that leaders in the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration, as well as the governments of Canada and Mexico and key stakeholders, have reached consensus on USMCA. The agreement is a positive step for the electronics manufacturing industry and millions of U.S. workers and consumers. By prioritizing a modernized and strengthened trade relationship between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, all three nations can strengthen the region's supply chains, expand trade opportunities with partners abroad, and reinforce North America as a bastion of strength and stability in an uncertain worl

Almost 90 percent of U.S. electronics manufacturers are troubled by the higher tariffs imposed by the United States and China on each other’s imports, and some are investing less in the United States and hiring fewer workers as a result.

IPC today announced it has joined the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) as part of its continuing efforts to help IPC members navigate the complex challenge of responsible minerals sourcing.

Today, IPC announced Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., CFA, will serve as the association’s chief economist. In this role, DuBravac will expand IPC’s research program and provide insights on the biggest issues facing the $2 trillion global electronics industry, including supply chain resiliency/uncertainty, trade wars, skilled workforce shortage, and the expanding role of electronics in the global economy.

Global Advocacy Report

IPC announced today the June 2019 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Sales growth in June remained positive while bookings slipped and the book-to-bill ratio returned to parity at 1.00.

On Thursday afternoon, an IPC group will take part in a White House event marking the first anniversary of President Trump’s Executive Order to develop a national strategy to expand the skilled workforce. The event will take stock of the progress made under that executive order and the related Pledge to America’s Workers, which called on private sector companies to step up their workforce upskilling efforts.

The Trump administration today is recognizing IPC member Calumet Electronics in Calumet, Michigan, for its efforts to expand its skilled workforce. This morning, Chris Pilkerton, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is visiting Calumet Electronics in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to walk the factory floor and learn about the manufacturing process for printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in aerospace, defense, power grid, medical, industrial controls and other commercial products. Later he will take part in a roundtable discussion at Michigan Technological University, focusing on workforce issues that affect the U.S. electronics industrial base.

IPC, the global trade association for the electronics industry, is applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for approving a measure that would promote research and development into the performance of lead-free electronics in high-reliability sectors such as aerospace, defense, automotive, and medical equipment.

IPC, the global trade association for the electronics industry, supports the Trump administration’s efforts to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USCMA) but believes the imposition of new tariffs on Mexican imports to address immigration issues at the U.S.-Mexico border will harm U.S. electronics companies and their customers.