Standard of Excellence: The Power of Personalization in Customer Care
Global Citizenship: Cultural Nuances Around the World
The Government Circuit: Four Things to Know About IPC Advocacy in 2025
Trade Tensions and Tariffs: Who Bears the Cost in These Shifting Trade Patterns?
January 21, 2025 | Shawn DuBravac, IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
During his 2024 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump suggested imposing a universal tariff of at least 10% on all imports, as well as a 60% tariff on goods originating from China. More recently, he proposed implementing blanket tariffs of 25% on all products imported from Canada and Mexico and adding a further 10% tariff to all existing duties on Chinese imports.
These potential measures emerge against a backdrop of shifting trade patterns. In 2023, Mexico surpassed China as the United States’ top source of imported goods for the first time since the early 1990s, helping make Mexico the leading U.S. trading partner, followed by Canada and then China.
These key U.S. trading partnershave signaled the possibility of retaliatory measures in response to higher U.S. tariffs. Such signals underscore escalating trade tensions and reflect how economic tools are being used to address broader issues, including geopolitical rivalry, supply chain disruptions, and market competitiveness.
The specifics of any additional tariffs—when they would be implemented and which goods they would cover—remain uncertain. Their potential impact is also unclear. However, research on previous tariff increases suggests negative consequences not only for trade volumes but also for businesses.
Read the rest of this article in the Winter 2025 issue of IPC Community.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Emerald Technologies Addresses New Tariff Imposed on Goods Originating from China
02/18/2025 | Emerald TechnologiesEmerald Technologies is closely monitoring the recent announcement of an additional 10% tariff on all goods originating from China. This tariff, effective February 4, 2025, will be applied in addition to existing tariffs on Chinese goods, such as those imposed under Section 301.
Statement from John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO, on U.S. Tariffs and Global Trade
02/13/2025 | IPCIPC, an electronics industry association dedicated to furthering the competitive excellence and financial success of more than 3,000 members worldwide, shared the following statement today on U.S. tariffs and their implications on the global electronics industry.
I-Connect007 Editor's Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
02/07/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For my top picks this week, I wanted to highlight some other important content we’ve featured. First is the incomparable Stephen Chavez, who provides insight into what the future PCB designer will look like. Bob Duke of American Standard outlines the seven key challenges he sees in offshore manufacturing. We move seamlessly from there to tariffs, one of today’s most talked about topics. Jeffrey Beauchamp of NCAB looks back at a recent timeline regarding tariffs, and it’s quite interesting. I’m also pointing you toward a feature on a thriving EMS company in Malaysia, one of the two most popular locations for China Plus One manufacturing expansions. Finally, we acknowledge the expansion news of a long-time PCB and EMS global supplier.
Fresh PCB Concepts: Tariffs and the Importance of a Diverse Supply Chain
01/28/2025 | Team NCAB -- Column: Fresh PCB ConceptsWith the new Trump administration, we anticipate an increase in tariffs on products from China, including printed circuit boards (PCBs). The current U.S. tariffs on PCBs from China is 25%, with two-layer and four-layer boards excluded from the tariffs until May 31, 2025. I’ve recently received a lot of questions about tariffs, even from the engineering end. While we are uncertain what the future will hold, this situation illustrates why it’s important to have a diverse supply chain.
Tariffs and Trade Wars: What to Expect in 2025
01/21/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamJames Kim is an international trade lawyer at ArentFox Schiff who keeps his thumb on the pulse of customs enforcement and import compliance. With a new administration taking over just days from now, James weighs in on the potential risks of international tariffs, some possible workarounds, and why this topic should be No. 1 on your list of concerns.