# EMS & The Economist: Geopolitical Factors Shaping the Manufacturing Sector

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-09-14
- Length: 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector

## Summary

IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac joins host Philip Stoten to analyze North American manufacturing data, highlighting weak book-to-bill ratios for PCB and EMS sectors. They discuss how Federal Reserve interest rate cuts may spur capital investment, while examining delays at major semiconductor facilities like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung. The conversation covers the geopolitical complexities of rare earth materials, China's EV dominance via BYD, and the impact of US election policies on supply chain resilience.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=6) Introduction: Shawn DuBravac and IPC Data Overview
- [0:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=44) North American PCB and EMS Book-to-Bill Weakness
- [3:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=189) Federal Reserve Rate Cuts and Capital Investment
- [5:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=328) Semiconductor Project Delays: TSMC, Intel, and Samsung
- [8:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=539) Rare Earth Materials and US-China Supply Chain Decoupling
- [11:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=700) China's EV Market Growth and BYD's Rise
- [14:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-14-ems-the-economist-geopolitical-factors-shaping-the-manufacturing-sector#t=873) US Election Impact on Manufacturing and Tariffs

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- IPC (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Intel (company)
- Samsung (company)
- BYD (company)
- Tesla (company)
- VW (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Seismology 1: Nvidia & Arm | Seismology 2: US IC Manufacturing on the Rebound](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-08-07-seismology-1-nvidia-arm-seismology-2-us-ic-manufacturing-on-the-rebound) (EE Times Current)
- [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)
- [China, Entrepreneurs and Blue Collar Reality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-10-27-china-entrepreneurs-and-blue-collar-reality) (The Amp Hour)
- [Episode 29: The Myth of Semiconductor Industry Deglobization](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-08-15-episode-29-the-myth-of-semiconductor-industry-deglobization) (The Circuit)
- [Episode 77: Asia Semis Tour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-07-30-episode-77-asia-semis-tour) (The Circuit)

## Citing this page

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