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American Made Advocacy: How Congress Can Restore the U.S. Printed Circuit Board Industry

In 2026, the global PCB industry will see strong growth driven by data centers and the global race to create the most powerful artificial intelligence, along with the increased sophistication and production scale manufacturing of defense and infrastructure systems. Automotive technology innovations, the acceleration of unmanned systems production, and the continued proliferation of smart devices are also among the market forces driving global demand for microelectronics in general and PCBs in particular.

PCBs are integrated into every electronic technology and system, serving as the foundational building block for the microelectronic technology stack. It is both a national and economic security imperative that our domestic PCB industry is positioned forward to meet the moment.

Our domestic PCB industry has been decimated over the past several decades due to the offshoring of manufacturing to (primarily) China. As we aggregate the many increased demand signals, it is clear that U.S. PCB manufacturing cannot keep pace. This capacity deficit drives sourcing to other nations that are investing heavily in their own PCB industries. China, of course, leads the league with about 60% of the world’s supply. The governments of Thailand, Vietnam, and India are all investing billions in PCB manufacturing to capitalize on the “China plus one” trend.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has not made a similar investment in PCBs. Semiconductors got a boost through the CHIPS Act and follow-on private investment activity, but American PCB manufacturing capacity is largely stagnant while other countries are gearing up to grow with explosive global demand.

Congress needs to take on the challenge of restoring American PCB manufacturing with the same vigor that they supported semiconductors. As we speak with congressional staffers and members on Capitol Hill, we find that many don’t understand that chips require PCBs to function. They also don’t realize we are dependent on foreign sourcing, even for critical infrastructure systems. This realization prompted the formation of PCBAA in 2021 and defined our “Educate. Advocate. Legislate” charter and messaging on the Hill.

The Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates (PCBS) Act (H.R.3597) is a strategic necessity. The legislation, as many of you know, calls for a $3 billion PCB industry infrastructure investment and a demand-driven 25% tax credit to the purchaser of U.S. fabricated PCBs so our industry can scale up to meet the challenges we see ahead. Without this legislation, there will not be the ability to scale appropriately, meet the demand signal, or attract private investment. A public/private investment approach is the  best path to restore our position of leadership.

There are additional opportunities in 2026. We are pursuing a Senate companion bill to the PCBS Act. Our team in Washington is focused on adding cosponsors who recognize the importance of American manufacturing. PCBAA is also building strong relationships at the Department of Defense (War) and Department of Commerce as they pursue policies to reshore and restore PCB manufacturing to support the defense industrial base and critical infrastructure.

PCBAA’s growing membership is giving us more influence in Washington. Members are taking an active role by contacting their representatives and inviting them to facilities to see the men and women on the front lines of our industry.

A global requirement for PCBs demands a national strategy for manufacturing. Our allies and our adversaries are meeting this challenge head on. The U.S. needs to do the same or we risk ceding the market to those who see the future and have proactively positioned to solve for it. Join us today to help restore the PCB industry.

This column originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of I-Connect007 Magazine.