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- President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Monday that dedicated funding to the federal government’s procurement of American goods.
- Biden touted a $400 billion investment while on the campaign trail to purchase American-made items that focused on clean vehicles and infrastructure.
- Foreign trading partners worry this policy will be harmful for supply chains, but Biden has reiterated his commitment toward working with allies on trade practices.
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President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Monday that will reform the Buy American rule by strengthening the federal government’s procurement of American-manufactured goods.
During his campaign, Biden pledged to invest $400 billion in new spending over the course of his presidency, which would be geared toward buying American-made goods focused on items such as clean vehicles, building materials for infrastructure improvements, and medical supplies. Former President Donald Trump enacted similar policies that prioritized the purchase of goods made by American workers, but given that Trump’s policies were not formalized until the end of his term, Biden plans on setting a 180-day deadline to enact the changes.
“[Biden] is going to take a major step toward his goal of rebuilding the backbone of America – manufacturing unions and the middle class,” an administration official said. “It’s based on his view that making sure that we are making things in America and all of America is core to our economic strategy.”
As part of the executive order, a new role at the White House Office of Management and Budget will be created to oversee the implementation of the Buy American order, according to a White House briefing document. The role would review waivers for Buy American requirements, and would call for creation of a website where waivers could be publicly viewed.
This executive order is one of many Biden has signed, or plans to sign, with the intent to bolster the economy. Last week, the president signed a number of orders that aimed at providing financial relief to Americans amid the pandemic, and his docket this week includes orders addressing immigration, healthcare, and climate change.
Biden's policy has prompted some concern among foreign trading partners, however, with Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau saying in an interview with CBS on Sunday that "it might jeopardize the very strong and integrated supply chains that exist between our two countries."
Despite concerns from trading partners, Biden has reiterated his commitment to work with American allies on trading practices.