‘Made in America’ President Biden Signs Executive Order to Boost U.S. Manufacturing, but to What Practical Effect? Monday, February 1, 2021
On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed the “Executive Order on Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers” (Made in America EO) to leverage federal purchasing power to strengthen domestic manufacturing, spur job creation for Americans, and bolster the middle class. The EO tightens “Made in America Laws,” including the Buy American Act (BAA), at a time when U.S. industries and supply chains are faltering under the strains of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To many onlookers, President Biden’s reliance on Made in America laws to boost domestic manufacturing echoes the “Buy American, Hire American” strategy implemented by former President Trump. Yet the Biden administration argues that, unlike the numerous orders and directives issued by his predecessor, this EO provides “a clear direct