# EMS & the Economist with IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac - July 2024

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-07-19
- Length: 33m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024

## Summary

Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist at IPC, discusses the gradual softening of the North American PCB and EMS markets, noting that companies are working through significant backlogs while holding off major investments due to uncertainty surrounding the US presidential election and interest rate cuts. He analyzes the impact of enduring tariffs on Chinese goods, explaining how they have shifted supply chains to beneficiaries like Mexico, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and altered the EV landscape in North America and Europe. DuBravac also highlights the increasing complexity of electronics driven by AI and the potential for near-shoring to persist regardless of political outcomes, as long-term industrial policy remains consistent across administrations.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=7) IPC Market Data and Economic Softening
- [3:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=195) Investment Hiatus and Election Uncertainty
- [7:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=444) Interest Rates and Geopolitical Risks
- [10:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=604) Global Sentiment and China Dumping Concerns
- [16:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=983) Electronics Complexity and AI Demand
- [19:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=1189) Tariff Mechanics and Supply Chain Shifts
- [22:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=1345) EV Tariffs and Regional Manufacturing
- [29:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-07-19-ems-the-economist-with-ipc-chief-economist-shawn-dubravac-july-2024#t=1781) Future of Cost Competitiveness and Automation

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- IPC (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- BYD (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Volvo (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [World Trade Futurity (WTF)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-11-11-world-trade-futurity-wtf) (The Amp Hour)
- [PCB East 2025: Exhibitors, AI Trends & Networking Opportunities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-05-09-pcb-east-2025-exhibitors-ai-trends-networking-opportunities) (OnTrack)
- [OnTrack PCB Design Podcast 2025 Year in Review](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-12-30-ontrack-pcb-design-podcast-2025-year-in-review) (OnTrack)
- [Beware of the Overachievers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-07-beware-of-the-overachievers) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Future of PCB Manufacturing: Tariffs, Supply Chains & More](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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