IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546209
84 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2026 A M E R I CA N M A D E A DVO CACY BY S H A N E W H I T ES I D E , P C BA A T he PCB industry faces challenges that are only now being recognized by government agencies. Against the backdrop of conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and the ongoing threat of Chinese business and military aggres- sion, the microelectronics industry overall has been upended. American PCB production has been hit especially hard. This happened because of a combination of three decades of offshoring, fighting for market share against heavily subsidized Asian countries, single sources of key inputs, and facing conflict- driven chokepoints across the supply chain. Much has been written about the offshoring of the industry and the unfairness of American companies competing with other countries. Like- wise, single sources like copper and woven glass have received attention. American PCBs in Big Demand and Short Supply