What if one of the most critical components in modern technology — from fighter jets to smartphones — is also one of the most overlooked?

In this episode of The China Desk Podcast, host Steve Yates sits down with David Schild, Executive Director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA), to break down the strategic importance of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and why they have become a major vulnerability in the U.S.–China competition.

Schild explains that while policymakers have focused heavily on semiconductors and rare earths, the United States has largely ignored the “middle layer” of the electronics stack — printed circuit boards — which connect and enable every advanced system in modern life. From defense systems and AI data centers to power grids and consumer electronics, virtually everything relies on PCBs.

The conversation details how China came to dominate global PCB production through long-term industrial policy, subsidies, and strategic investment, while U.S. production collapsed from roughly 30% of global supply to just 4% today. This shift has created serious national security concerns, including supply chain dependence, risks to trusted and secure systems, and the loss of domestic research and development.

The discussion also explores:
• Why PCB dependency poses risks to defense systems and critical infrastructure
• How “dual-use” and commercial off-the-shelf components create loopholes in defense procurement
• What happens to U.S. supply chains in a Taiwan crisis or major disruption in Asia
• The lack of surge manufacturing capacity in the United States
• Policy solutions including the PCBS Act, tax incentives, and Buy America requirements
• The role of tariffs, industrial policy, and strategic investment in rebuilding domestic production
• Why industrial policy and national security are now inseparable

Schild argues that rebuilding U.S. PCB manufacturing is not just an economic issue — it is essential to maintaining technological leadership, securing supply chains, and ensuring that the United States can compete in an era of great power competition.

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