Concerned about security, Biden seeks to produce supply chain goods

Robert Besser
27 Feb 2021, 17:10 GMT+10

To reduce U.S. reliance on the imports of advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals and semiconductors, Biden signed an executive order on Wednesday to boost manufacturing jobs.
Biden's team noted that the benefits would extend beyond factory work.
The Biden administration hopes to tackle this increasing reliance on imports by increasing domestic production.

WASHINGTON, DC: In order to reduce the United States' reliance on the imports of advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals and semiconductors, which could pose a potential national security and economic risk, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Wednesday to boost manufacturing jobs by strengthening U.S. supply chains for these goods.

Biden's team declined to comment on how many manufacturing jobs could be created, but noted that the benefits would extend past factory work.

The Biden administration, which is looking to work with international partners to guarantee a stable and reliable supply chain, hopes to tackle this increasing reliance on imports during its planned 100-day review and by increasing domestic production.

"These are the kinds of common sense solutions that all Americans can get behind," Biden said at a White House ceremony. "It's about resilience, identifying possible points of vulnerabilities in our supply chains and making sure we have the backup alternatives or workarounds in place."

There are 12.2 million manufacturing jobs in the United States, down from 17 million in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While White House officials reiterated that the order would help create more manufacturing jobs, Sameera Fazili, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, emphasized this would, in turn, generate research and development and jobs in the services sector.