The global scarcity of semiconductor chips has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz / Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Joe Biden on Wednesday, it signed an executive order to improve the supply chain for semiconductor chips and other critical resources. The order launches a 100-day review of supply chains in four main sectors: semiconductors, essential minerals, pharmaceuticals and high-capacity batteries for electric vehicles. The review aims to identify short-term measures the government can take, including working with legislators in Congress, to mitigate supply chain risks, according to the White House.
“We need to make sure that these supply chains are safe and reliable,” said Biden, adding that semiconductor chips power everything from cars to phones and medical devices.
The US felt the impact of the global chip shortage, with some automakers halting production in the United States due to a lack of chips that help control everything from engines to airbags. Chip shortages also contributed to electronics inventory issues, including the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, both sold out in the US and around the world.
The White House also highlighted the shortage of personal protective equipment for frontline health professionals early in the coronavirus pandemic.
The order also calls for a longer and more in-depth review of a wide range of supply chains that are critical for the US, including in the defense, public health and energy sectors.
Biden met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the US supply chain before signing the executive order.
“This is a critical area in which Republicans and Democrats agree,” said Biden.
See too: Biden’s presidency: what it means for technology