I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

It’s time for my five must-reads featured this past week. The global economy is still reeling from last Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that most tariffs imposed under IEEPA by President Trump are unconstitutional. Since that time, everyone and his brother has released an announcement about how it will or won’t affect them in the immediate aftermath, so we'll see what happens with that.

In other news, with APEX EXPO just two weeks away, we're featuring the first three Real Time with... pre-show sponsor interviews: Remtec, Burkle North America, and KYZEN. These are insightful and forward-thinking interviews about what you can expect to see at the show this year. Please check them out!

Given the bulk of world news this week thusly focused, my first pick features Thiago Guimaraes, the Global Electronics Association’s industry intelligence director, who provides a superb overview of the tariff environment and where we find (found) ourselves globally in the new year. In perfect juxtaposition, I’m also pointing to our review of a webinar hosted by the Association, which explained the significance of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In great need of some levity after that, please read Don Ball’s column, in which he recounts some amusing stories from APEX EXPOs of the past. I also invite you to listen to my new podcast series with Isola’s Sean Mirshafiei, and my interview with Emerging Engineer Julian Vega of Summit Interconnect. He’s a young man clearly poised for a great career in the PCB industry.

Electronics Trade in a Persistent Tariff Environment
Published February 24

Thiago Guimaraes states, “For companies operating global electronics supply chains, tariffs are no longer a short-term disruption; they are part of the operating environment.” Despite current mayhem around tariff realities, I still think he is right. He recounts a list of variables that now weigh into every business equation, and breaks things down by global region. This is a good general overview of the tariff environment, and will arm you for the ongoing discourse on the subject.

After IEEPA: What Electronics Companies Should Know About Tariff Refund Strategies and Section 122
Published February 26

This past Tuesday, the Global Electronics Association hosted an informative and well-attended webinar with the prominent trade law firm Squire Patton Boggs. For nearly 60 minutes, attorneys Jeremy Dutra and Ludmilla Kasulke offered legal analysis and practical guidance to listeners, with much discussion of what is likely to unfold over the next 150 days. After reading Thiago’s article, you will want to dive into this one.

The Chemical Connection: Some Amusing Stories from APEX EXPO
Published February 24

When Don Ball showed up to his first APEX EXPO, he was a young man full of energy and enthusiasm. Though he’s still a staunch advocate of the event, Don’s attitude has evolved since that first experience. From the perils of standing in a booth all day to providing booth entertainment as a draw for traffic, Don is a great storyteller, and this month’s column is no exception.

I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials
Published February 24

It was a pleasure to host Isola’s new “On the Line With” podcast series. As one of the oldest manufacturers of glass-reinforced base laminate materials for the printed circuit board industry, Isola offers an interesting and knowledgeable perspective on where the materials industry has been and where it is going. In this first episode, President Sean Mirshafiei provides a solid recounting of history and its evolution, always providing one of the most essential building blocks of printed circuit boards and electronics products.

Growing an Engineer: Meet Emerging Engineer Julian Vega
Published February 25

Talking to young professionals in our industry gives me energy, and that was the case with Summit Interconnect’s Julian Vega. Summit sends many of its young engineers through the Emerging Engineer program of the Global Electronics Association, as they can. At 17, Julian Vega was introduced to Summit as part of an internship program, and later hired into a permanent position. After several years of working in front-end engineering, Julian joined the Emerging Engineer program. He’s grateful for the experience and for “learning more than I ever thought possible.” His story will make you smile, and possibly, give you some much-needed energy as well.