Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1531663
60 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 pily a distant memory, but we cannot forget what we learned from that experience. We saw why supplier risk must be mitigated by reduc- ing reliance on far-flung and vulnerable logis- tics operations. While few expect a continua- tion of all the Biden administration's efforts, I didn't meet with anyone in Washington will- ing to abandon our made-in-America mission. Why Isn't the U.S. Investing in PCBs? Across the globe, governments have reduced their dependency on China to achieve supply chain resilience that better balances risk and business needs. On every continent, we're see- ing incentives and initiatives to build new PCB factories. e U.S. is now competing with more countries than ever to capture a larger slice of the nearly $81 billion global PCB market. We must remind lawmakers that ailand, Malay- sia, and other nations are scrambling to exploit new opportunities and are investing billions at a time when the U.S. government is not. Tax Reform Can Help Transform American Manufacturing Elections have consequences and new pri- orities. It will likely be more difficult to imple- ment sweeping legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act. With this in mind, we are focused on incentives, like the 25% tax credit included in HR 3249, the Protecting Circuit Boards & Substrates Act. Congress is considering a large tax bill that would move early in the next Con- gress, and we are lobbying hard for them to include a 25% tax credit for the purchase of American-made PCBs. Educate New Government Leaders About the Microelectronics Ecosystem Americans are understandably focused on the change at the White House, as well as a new Republican majority in Congress, but some of the most consequential policymakers for American manufacturing lie elsewhere. At the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Energy, and the Federal Trade Commis- sion, new political appointees will fill critical roles focused on the defense industrial base, AI supply chains, trade policy and tariffs, and many more areas of concern. PCBAA, IPC, and our member companies have educated the previous set of political appointees and career federal executives, and we benefited from funding from the Defense Production Act. We begin again with President Trump's appointees and will work across federal agen- cies to get the support we need to grow. Our industry should be a beneficiary of the expected focus on made-in-America. is is why PCBAA and IPC are working together to educate new faces in Washington about the critical role that PCB manufacturers, assem- blers, and materials providers play in the entire microelectronics ecosystem. With the excep- tion of support for PCBs and substrates through the Defense Production Act, the industry was largely ignored by other government agencies in the previous administration. We start the new year with bipartisan sup- port in Congress, strong partnerships with like- minded organizations, and the power of our growing membership base. When the winds of change blow through Washington, the PCB industry needs to present a united front. PCB007 Shane Whiteside is president and CEO of Summit Intercon- nect and current chair of the Printed Circuit Board Associa- tion of America. To read past columns, click here. " Our industry should be a beneficiary of the expected focus on made-in-America. "