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The Government Circuit: New Council Now Helps Shape Policy Decisions in the Electronics Supply Chain

I’m regularly on Capitol Hill, talking about the foundational importance of PCBs and other essential pieces of the electronics supply chain. I find that policymakers work hard to make informed decisions that affect our $6 trillion industry, yet they don’t always have a complete picture of how interconnected our industry has become. A component decision in Arizona can ripple through a PCB line in Guadalajara, a materials plant in Penang, and ultimately the manufacturers that depend on both.

That’s why the global electronics industry needs a unified, coordinated voice to help policymakers understand those connections before decisions are made, so policies strengthen the entire electronics supply chain rather than one segment at the expense of another. 

To address this gap, we launched the Global Electronics Policy Council (GEPC). It includes representatives from six of today’s most influential electronics companies: AT&S, Flex, Jabil, Plexus, TSMC, and TTM Technologies, led by chair Thomas Cetta of Jabil. Together, they represent multiple segments of the electronics value chain, including PCB manufacturers, EMS providers, OEMs, semiconductor suppliers, wire harness firms, and advanced packaging firms.

Up to this point, policymakers often heard from individual companies, industry segments, or regions, each with a different perspective. This piecemeal approach has brought us to an inflection point marked by unparalleled instability and volatility. We have seen a cascade of trade actions, export controls, and investment reviews that can redraw supply chain maps overnight.

Because the GEPC includes companies from across the electronics industries, it can provide a more complete picture than any one company could do alone. These leading electronics companies will identify and develop common positions that benefit the entire industry before governments make important decisions. Our goal is to help lawmakers create a more resilient electronics supply chain.

Why Now?

Government policy touches nearly every aspect of the electronics industry. Trade, investment, workforce development, sustainability requirements, and research initiatives all influence how and where companies compete. Yet, on a global scale, those issues are often addressed independently, even though their effects are felt across this highly interconnected supply chain.  

Investments in recent years illustrate both the opportunity and the challenge. Reuters reports that in recent years, China, Japan, and the United States have pumped tens of billions of dollars into their domestic semiconductor, battery, and advanced packaging initiatives. Those investments are welcome, but other critical parts of the supply chain—PCBs, substrates, connectors, wire harness, materials, and related equipment—remain financially under-resourced.

That’s why the GEPC was formed: to give the electronics industry an opportunity to speak with one voice and help policymakers understand those connections before decisions are made.

Early Areas of Focus

To do that, the council will focus on five areas where industry experience can help shape more informed policy decisions:

• Safeguard predictable access to global markets: The better governments understand the connectivity and interdependence of our digital economy, the more likely they are to create mutually beneficial policies.
• Invest in domestic manufacturing and capability: As the industry turns toward more advanced electronics manufacturing, the council will examine how capacity can be built with trusted partners in both component- and system-level packaging.
• Build robust workforce pipelines: Every country needs a skilled, modern electronics workforce. We will champion vocational pathways, upskilling, and fast-tracked credentials to help make this happen.
• Support industry-led technical and sustainability standards: The council will advocate for harmonized, science-based approaches that avoid duplicative reporting and perverse outcomes, and for data systems that enable traceability without crushing SMEs.
• Accelerate technology leadership through collaborative R&D: The council will promote frameworks that protect IP while enabling shared research, testbeds, and pilot lines.

A policy council only matters if it delivers for both small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as the largest multinational companies. Global companies bring resources, data, and staying power. SMEs bring the shopfloor perspective and innovation. They are often the first to feel when a new regulation or policy creates unintended problems.

Together, companies of all sizes can help policymakers identify government policies that create unnecessary friction through the electronics supply chain. By addressing these issues early, the GEPC hopes to free companies to focus on what they do best: building products, hiring employees, and innovating.

I’ve learned that policymakers want to get these decisions right. Our responsibility is to help them understand how these decisions affect the entire electronics industry, not just one company or one technology.

If you’re interested in learning more or joining the council, please contact me. 

Chris Mitchell is IPC’s VP of global government affairs. Contact him at ChrisMitchell@ipc.org.