Statement from IPC, the Global Electronics Association, on Recent U.S. Tariffs and Global Trade
March 7, 2025 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
IPC shared the following statement today on U.S. tariffs and their implications on the global electronics industry. This statement can be attributed to Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO:
President Trump’s decision to postpone tariffs on goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is the right move for building strength and resiliency in electronics. IPC urges the White House to work with the industry during the delay to protect the progress President Trump started during his first term to revitalize electronics manufacturing.
More than 10 percent of all trade with Canada and Mexico last year was in electronics, amounting to $184 billion. 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.
North America’s electronics industry is deeply interconnected, with components like printed circuit boards, semiconductors, and wiring harnesses crossing borders multiple times before final assembly. Nearly 78 percent of U.S. electronics imports from Mexico and 47 percent of exports occur within intra-firm trade. For Canada, intra-firm trade accounts for 50 percent of imports and 40 percent of exports, underscoring the seamless flow of critical components that sustain U.S. electronics manufacturing. Imposing these tariffs discourages investment, disrupts supply chains, and risks pushing manufacturers out of North America.
Electronics are the backbone of innovation in AI, automotive, healthcare, and the national and economic security infrastructure. A strong domestic electronics industry is essential to maintaining U.S. leadership in many critical sectors. Tariffs on key trading partners and inputs like aluminum, steel, and copper will drive up costs, create uncertainty, and weaken a fragile U.S. electronics industry as other nations continue to invest and advance. IPC is eager to work with President Trump on his domestic pro-growth, pro-manufacturing agenda to build a stronger, more resilient industrial base.
Suggested Items
DuPont Announces Additional Directors for the Planned Independent Electronics Company
04/18/2025 | DuPontDuPont announced that Karin De Bondt and Anne Noonan will become members of the future board of directors for the independent Electronics public company that will be created following its intended spin-off from DuPont, which is targeted for November 1, 2025.
Navigating Robotics Deployment Challenges with SINBON
04/18/2025 | PRNewswireIn spite of the potential for robotics technology to expand productivity, several implementation challenges continue to stand in the way of more widespread adoption.
Can the Electronics Industry Balance Tariffs With Investment?
04/18/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamTo better understand the U.S. administration’s recent actions on global trade policies, Barry Matties and Nolan Johnson met with Richard Cappetto, IPC’s senior director of North American government relations, who highlighted both the challenges and opportunities available to U.S. companies in the recent trade activity. This could include increased domestic manufacturing and supply chain diversification.
IPC President's Award: Barry Matties
04/21/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007The IPC President’s Award is given to IPC members who have exhibited ongoing leadership in IPC and have made significant contributions of their time and talent to the association and the electronic interconnect industry. Individuals can receive this award only once. Barry Matties has been a leading global force in publishing content about the electronics industry for nearly 40 years. He began his publishing career as a co-founder of CircuiTree Magazine in 1987, which became the leading printed trade journal serving the PCB industry.
Indium Experts to Present on Power Electronics at PCIM Europe 2025
04/17/2025 | Indium CorporationAs one of the leading materials providers to the power electronics assembly and e-Mobility industries, Indium Corporation experts will share their technical insight and knowledge on a variety of industry-related topics throughout PCIM Europe, May 6-8, in Nuremberg, Germany.