IPC Welcomes U.S.–China Phase One Deal

The following statement can be attributed to John Mitchell, IPC president and CEO: “The electronics manufacturing industry welcomes the announcement that the United States and China have agreed to a "phase one" trade deal bolstering enforcement of China's intellectual property laws and rolling back or postponing retaliatory tariffs on thousands of goods traded between them. “As documented in a recent IPC study, many IPC members are feeling the pain of higher costs, supply chain disruptions, administrative hassles, and reduced access to valuable markets as a result of the U.S.-China trade war. “We call on the governments of the United States and China to de-escalate the tariffs on both sides; focus on results at the negotiating table and conclude agreements that address long-standing issues of concern to both sides. We also call on all members of the World Trade Organization to restore that body’s ability to play its role as arbiter of international trade disputes, so that nations won’t feel a need to resort to tariffs to resolve disputes.”