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Biden Announces Measures to Alleviate Supply Chain Crisis

2021-10-13T22:27:03.689Z


Biden spoke about the supply chain crisis after meeting with US port operators and shippers | Economy, United States | CNN


President Joe Biden announced new measures Wednesday to alleviate the supply chain crisis.

This is what you should know

Port of Los Angeles photographed on September 28, 2021. (Credit: Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)

The Government is stepping up its efforts to alleviate the supply chain nightmare that has led to shortages of some goods and soaring consumer prices, and which now threatens to slow the economic recovery.

Around the world, ports are congested as a result of the rapid rebound in demand for commodities and goods as the economy recovers from the pandemic.

Transportation costs have skyrocketed, and companies wanting to transport goods are struggling because not enough ships or containers are available.

At the same time, the prices that consumers must pay rise.

President Biden explained the steps his administration will take along with some of the nation's largest ports and retailers to help alleviate supply chain bottlenecks.

Here are some key highlights of Biden's announcements today:

More hours of operation in the ports:

Biden announced that the port of Los Angeles will begin to provide service 24 hours a day, which equates it with that of Long Beach, which already works under this regime.

These two ports handle 40% of the container traffic in the United States.

"Today's announcement has the potential to be a turning point," Biden said in his remarks at the White House.

He stated that the additional port hours will increase the unloading time of container ships by 60 hours per week, and that it represents doubling the hours that ports worked at the beginning of the year.

The private sector is also acting:

Biden met with senior officials and stakeholders to discuss collective efforts to resolve transportation bottlenecks and then delivered his speech. The talks were attended by port operators, truckers associations, unions and executives from Walmart, FedEx, UPS and Target. The president said Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, had pledged to increase off-peak freight transportation by 50%. The president said FedEx and UPS will also increase their nightly operations. "All of these goods will not move on their own," Biden said. "For the positive impact to be felt throughout the country and by all of you at home,We need the major retailers who ordered the goods and the freight forwarders who take the goods from the ships to the factories and stores to step forward as well. "

Efforts to Increase the Number of Truckers:

Administration officials also said the federal government is working with state departments of motor vehicles to help increase the issuance of commercial driver's licenses in an effort to increase the number of truck drivers in the country.

They added that the White House expects the trucking and rail freight industries to extend their hours as well.

The truck driver shortage has added to supply chain limitations, making delivery of goods even more expensive and slower.

9 posts

2 hours ago

Biden specifically thanked unions, but most supply chain workers don't belong to any

By Chris Isidore

(Mark Lennihan / AP)

President Biden, who has been called the most union-friendly president in history, took some time during his remarks at the White House on Wednesday to thank various unions for the work of their members to help solve the problems. of the supply chain.

Although workers in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and loading and unloading ships are members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and many railroad workers are unionized, the vast majority of supply chain workers are not affiliated with no union.

Most truckers who call at the port or move trailers or containers full of goods long distances work for companies that do not employ unionized workers.

And nearly all of the retailers that receive the merchandise, including the three Biden mentioned - Walmart, Target and Home Depot - also don't employ unionized workers. Although United Parcel Service drivers and distribution center workers are members of the Teamsters union, rival UPS FedEx, which was also mentioned by Biden, does not employ unionized workers.

Statistics from the Department of Labor show that only 18% of transportation and warehouse workers nationwide were represented by unions in 2020. But a large percentage of unionized workers in that sector work on passenger airlines, not in the transport of goods.

And while it is less than a fifth of those workers, it is significantly higher than the 7% of workers in all American industries that are represented by unions.

In the retail sector the figure is much lower: only 5%.

Biden took the time to point out various unions by name.

2 hours ago

"If the private sector doesn't step up, we're going to summon them and ask them to act," says Biden.

By DJ Judd

(Evan Vucci / AP)

President Biden praised Walmart, FedEx and UPS for committing to transporting more products during off-peak hours, and urged others in the private sector to "step up as well" to help alleviate supply chain problems that affect the United States.

"Today, Walmart, the largest retailer in our country, is committed to moving its products 24 hours a day from the ports to its stores throughout the country. Specifically, Walmart is committed to increasing the use of up to 50% off-peak hours for the next several weeks, "Biden said.

"FedEx and UPS are the carriers for some of the largest stores in our country, but they also ship to tens of thousands of small businesses across the United States. Their commitment to 24/7 operations means businesses of all sizes will have their products on the shelves faster and more reliably, "Biden said of his commitments.

Biden also highlighted Target, Home Depot and Samsung's commitment to "intensify their activities to utilize off-peak hours at ports."

"Their commitment to operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week means that companies of all sizes will have their products on the shelves faster and more reliably," said Biden.

Biden hinted that federal action could be appealed if private companies "don't step up."

"I want to be clear, this is a cross-cutting commitment to go into (an operation) 24/7, this is a great first step to accelerate the movement of materials and goods through our supply chain, but now we need the rest of the private sector chain also takes a step forward, "warned Biden.

"This is not called a supply chain in vain."

"Strengthening our supply chain will continue to be the goal of my team," he added.

"If federal support is needed, I will direct all appropriate actions. Now if the private sector does not step up, we are going to summon them and ask them to act, because our goal is not only to overcome this immediate bottleneck, but to address the long-standing weaknesses in our transportation supply chain that this pandemic has exposed. "

3 hours ago

Biden says extension of port hours may be a turning point

By Chris Isidore

(Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

President Biden announced agreements to extend working hours at the port of Los Angeles, the nation's largest, and also to extend working hours at many of the major retailers.

"Today's announcement has the potential to change the rules of the game," he said in remarks at the White House.

Biden said the additional hours from the port will increase the amount of time for unloading container ships by 60 hours a week.

The agreement will double the operating hours of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach compared to earlier this year.

The two Southern California ports handle 40% of the cargo containers that bring imported goods into the country, but for much of this year there has been a jam of dozens of ships anchored outside the ports, expecting an average of 10 days to enter to unload merchandise.

Biden noted that opening ports for longer hours is only part of the effort, and that the country needs retailers to move goods.

"Because all these goods are not going to move on their own. For the positive impact to be felt across the country and to be felt by all of you at home, we need the major retailers who ordered the goods and the carriers who carry the goods from ships to factories and stores also step up, "said Biden.

He also said that among the retailers that have promised to accept more merchandise overnight are Walmart, Target and Home Depot.

The president said FedEx and UPS will also increase their nightly operations.

3 hours ago

Biden: Pass Infrastructure Law to Prevent More Supply Chain Problems

President Biden used his remarks today on the supply chain crisis to push through bipartisan infrastructure legislation that is stalled in Congress.

"To be globally competitive, we have to improve our ability to make things here in America, and at the same time move finished products across the country and around the world. We have to think big and bold. That's why I am driving a one-generation investment in our infrastructure and our people, "he said.

"The bill would also make investments in our manufacturing and supply chains and strengthen our ability to make more goods from start to finish right here in the United States," he continued.

Biden said he wanted to make sure the United States "never again" is in the situation of "not being able to make key products that we need because we don't have access to the materials to make that product."

3 hours ago

NOW: Biden Discusses His Government's Efforts to Alleviate Global Transportation Bottlenecks

By Anneken Tappe

President Biden is speaking at a conference about his administration's plans to fix global transportation bottlenecks.

The president met earlier with senior officials and stakeholders to discuss how to collectively address the issues.

Port operators, truckers associations, unions and executives from Walmart, FedEx, UPS and Target participated in the talks.

The White House will work with businesses and ports in a "90-day sprint" to ease bottlenecks, according to a senior administration official.

Some will start working 24 hours a day to fix the delays.

The port of Los Angeles will begin to provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, matching the operations of the port of Long Beach, which already works 24 hours, according to the official.

These two ports handle 40% of the container traffic in the United States.

Before his remarks, Biden said in a tweet that his administration is "working around the clock to move goods faster."

Today I'm announcing that the Port of LA will begin operating around the clock 24/7 to make sure Americans can get the goods they need.

My Administration is working around the clock to move more goods faster and strengthen the resiliency of our supply chains.

- President Biden (@POTUS) October 13, 2021

3 hours ago

The White House Says They Can't "Make Predictions" About When Supply Chain Bottlenecks And Inflation Will Be Resolved

By llie Malloy

(Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)

White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed supply chain problems and rising inflation on Wednesday.

In this regard, he said that the administration cannot "guarantee" when the problems will be solved, and that they are using "all the tools" at their disposal to alleviate the impact on consumers.

"I cannot predict that we will solve all the problems tomorrow or next week. We will not. We are emerging from an economic crisis caused by a pandemic, but what we are doing is working to use all the tools that we have at our disposal. to ease the impact on the American people, ease the impact on families heading into the holidays, but certainly beyond that, "Psaki said.

The press secretary referred to the announcement made by the Biden administration earlier Wednesday and its efforts to fix bottlenecks at two California ports.

Psaki also did not guarantee that Americans will receive Christmas packages on time.

"We are not the Postal Service or UPS or FedEx. We cannot guarantee that. What we can do is use all the means available to the federal government to reduce delays, to make sure that we are addressing bottlenecks in the system. , including ports and the need for more hours to be open for goods to arrive, and we can continue to pressure not only workers and unions, but also companies to take all possible measures to reduce these delays. " he told reporters.

Asked whether Americans should wait for inflation to get worse before it improves, Psaki said he would "not make a prediction" as there are various problems affecting the supply chain.

4 hours ago

Biden will speak about the supply chain crisis after meeting with US port operators and carriers.

By Anneken Tappe

President Joe Biden will speak soon on his administration's plans to address global transportation bottlenecks.

The president met earlier today with senior officials and stakeholders to discuss how to collectively address the issues.

Port operators, trucking associations, unions and executives from Walmart, FedEx, UPS and Target attended the talks.

The White House will work with businesses and ports in a "

90-day

sprint

" to ease bottlenecks, according to a senior administration official.

Some will start working 24/7 to address delays.

The Port of Los Angeles will move to 24/7 service, aligning it with operations at the Port of Long Beach, which is already operating on a 24/7 schedule, the official said.

Those two ports handle 40% of container traffic in the US.

Before his comments, Biden said in a tweet that his administration is "working around the clock to move goods faster."

5 hours ago

The White House will announce that some private sector companies will operate 24/7

The White House will work with private sector stakeholders in a "90-day sprint" to help ease supply chain bottlenecks, a problem that has led to higher prices for consumers and slowed down the supply chain. global economic recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.

KEEP READING

5 hours ago

The global supply chain nightmare is about to get worse

Computer chip shortage.

Epic port congestion.

And a serious shortage of truckers.

The world's delicate supply chains are under extreme stress.

KEEP READING

supply chain

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-10-13

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