It’s Wednesday…
President Biden’s public schedule for 04/17/2024:
| 9:15 AMPool Call Time | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, Scranton, PAOut-of-Town Pool |
| 9:30 AM Presidential Daily Brief | The President receives the President’s Daily Brief Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, Scranton, PA Closed Press |
| 11:20 AM Left Scranton | The President departs Scranton, Pennsylvania en route to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport, Avoca, PA Open Press |
| 12:15 PMOfficial Schedule | The President arrives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh International Airport Open Press |
| 12:45 PM Greets Steelworkers | The President greets with steelworkers United Steelworkers Union, Pittsburgh Out-of-Town Pool |
| 1:45 PM Remarks | The President delivers remarks United Steelworkers Union, Pittsburgh Open Press |
| 4:00 PM Leaves Pittsburgh | The President departs Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania en route to Joint Base Andrews Pittsburgh International Airport Open Press |
| 5:00 PM Leaves Joint Base Andrews | The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route to the White House Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Pool |
| 5:10 PM Arrives at the White House | The President arrives at the White House South Lawn Open Press |
From the White House…
04/17/2024:
Call to triple the tariff rate on steel and aluminum imports from China
United States Trade Representative to investigate China’s unfair shipbuilding practices
President Biden knows that steel is the backbone of the American economy, and a bedrock of our national security. American steel fueled the country’s industrialization and helped build the middle class. American-made steel remains critical for our economic and national security. American companies must lead the future of more sustainable steel. This green steel will fortify the infrastructure that supports our communities, form the ocean vessels that transport American goods, power the electric vehicles of our clean-energy future, and support thousands of hardworking American families.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect U.S. Steel and Shipbuilding Industry from China’s Unfair Practices. 04/17/2024.
President Biden is making historic investments in American steel and manufacturing that are a sharp contrast with the previous Administration. While the previous Administration failed to deliver an infrastructure bill, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are spurring hundreds of billions of dollars in private-sector manufacturing and clean energy investments. Under President Biden, investments in construction of new factories have more than doubled—after falling under the previous Administration even before the pandemic—while nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs have been created and construction employment is at a record high. Our trade deficit with China is the lowest it’s been in over a decade—lower than any year under the previous Administration. President Biden’s strategic trade and investment agenda protects workers, consumers, and businesses from unfair competition.
At the same time, American workers in the steel and aluminum industries face a significant challenge from Chinese exports of steel and aluminum which are among the most emissions-intensive products in the world. China’s overcapacity and non-market investments in the steel and aluminum industries mean high-quality U.S. products have to compete with artificially low-priced alternatives produced with higher carbon emissions.
Steel is a critical input for our domestic shipbuilding industry—from the commercial shipping vessels that carry American products, to the U.S. naval vessels that keep global seas safe. Commercial shipyards provide industrial capacity for maintaining the U.S. Navy’s dominance and support thousands of suppliers and jobs.
The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes growing concerns that unfair Chinese trade practices, including flooding the market with below-market-cost steel, are distorting the global shipbuilding market and eroding competition. These concerns were outlined in a petition to the U.S. Trade Representative from five labor unions requesting an investigation into Chinese acts, policies, and practices in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.
In response to China’s unfair practices, today the Biden-Harris Administration is taking new, historic actions to support American steel manufacturing and shipbuilding.
- President Biden is calling on the USTR to consider tripling the existing 301 tariff rate on Chinese steel and aluminum. The current average tariff on certain steel and aluminum products is 7.5% under Section 301. American workers continue to face unfair competition from Chinese imports of steel and aluminum products, which are among the world’s most emissions-intensive. Chinese policies and subsidies for their domestic steel and aluminum industries means high-quality U.S. products are undercut by artificially low-priced Chinese alternatives produced with higher emissions. To the extent consistent with the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) review of Section 301 tariffs and findings of her investigation, President Biden is calling for USTR to consider enhancing the effectiveness of tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products by tripling them.
- President Biden’s Department of Commerce is taking action against countries and importers that do not play by the rules and flood the market with cheap products. Since President Biden took office, the Department of Commerce has imposed over 30 anti-dumping and countervailing duties on steel-related products. These are tariffs on steel imports that are priced below the fair and competitive value. The Department of Commerce has also conducted nearly 27 investigations into anti-competitive actions by Chinese exporters and efforts by countries like China to evade trade rules.
- President Biden is directing his senior team to work with Mexico to jointly prevent China’s and other countries’ evasion of tariffs on steel and aluminum that is imported from Mexico into the United States. This is a growing challenge that must be addressed to prevent Chinese and others’ steel exports from gaining access to the U.S. market and evading Section 232 or Section 301 tariffs. President Biden recently sent senior members of his administration to Mexico to address this issue.
- The United States Trade Representative is initiating an investigation into China’s unfair trade practices in shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors. This investigation follows a petition filed by the United Steelworkers (USW) and four other unions who claim the Government of China’s drive to dominate the global shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sector is built on non-market policies that are far more aggressive and interventionist than any other country. President Biden believes it is critical to understand China’s uniquely aggressive set of interventions in these sectors, and to take actions that address distortions to the global market for commercial vessels, maritime shipping, and logistics that harm American workers and shipbuilders.
- President Biden is committed to maintaining strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers. In light of the proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, President Biden will continue to make clear that U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and that it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.
- President Biden is investing in clean American-made steel. Today’s announcements build on the Administration’s commitments to green steel production. The Biden-Harris Administration, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, recently announced up to $1.5 billion for six clean iron and steel projects as part of a historic broader investment to lower emissions from energy-intensive industries. These projects are set to demonstrate innovative technologies that can eliminate the vast majority of emissions from steelmaking, and enable the industry to phase out more traditional carbon-intensive production methods. They will support the economic comeback of steel communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the South and Midwest, so the U.S. steel industry can remain competitive as the global leader in low-carbon iron and steel products.
These investments include up to $75 million for the only high-silicon grain oriented electrical steel plant in the U.S. in Lyndora, Pennsylvania that is sustaining more than 1,000 United Autoworker jobs at the Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works plant and up to $500 million for the Cleveland-Cliffs plant in Middletown, Ohio to produce clean steel for the auto supply chain.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect U.S. Steel and Shipbuilding Industry from China’s Unfair Practices. 04/17/2024.
President Biden Delivers Remarks @1:45 p.m. D.C., time:
Bilateral Meetings Tweets
From Tuesday…
The United States-Iraqi partnership is pivotal for our nations, for the Middle East, and for the world. pic.twitter.com/0KPuZQUrwm
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 16, 2024
The video is 38 seconds long.
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa al-Sudani of the Republic of Iraq Before Bilateral Meeting; the YouTube is 12 minutes and 2 seconds long (04/15/2024):
Well, Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. Welcome to the White House. Welcome to the Oval Office.
[snip]
We’re also committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region, including Iraq. The partnership between Iraq and the United States is critical. We’ve seen over the last decade as our troops have served side by side to help defeat ISIS, and we’ve seen this in our Strategic Framework Agreement as well.
And I want to personally thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for your focus on strengthening Iraq’s economy and energy independence. That’s a goal we share today with you, and we’re going to discuss that later today.
Mr. Prime Minister, thank you again for being here. Thank you for making the effort to be here.
Simply put, our partnership is pivotal for our nations, for the Middle East, and, I believe, for the world.
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa al-Sudani of the Republic of Iraq Before Bilateral Meeting. 04/15/2024.
From Wednesday…
Prime Minister Fiala shared with me that he can still remember being a young boy in 1968 and seeing Russian tanks roll into his town.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 17, 2024
He and I are united in our support for Ukraine as they defend against Russia’s invasion. pic.twitter.com/QMm9JArPul
The video clip is 1 minute and 18 seconds long.
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic Before Bilateral Meeting; the YouTube is 6 minutes and 20 seconds long (04/15/2024):
President Biden:
Well, Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome.
[snip]
The best decision we made. You’ve been a great, great ally. And we’ve only grown closer and stronger as nations, both the United States and the Czech Republic.
Together, we’re deepening defense cooperation to ensure the security of our people, as well as including the modernization of your military force with the purchase of F-35 aircraft and helos. It’s just amazing what you’re doing.
And together, we’re going to bolster our energy security and expand our clean power. We’re going to get to talk about that in some detail in a little bit.
[snip]
I want to thank you for helping — Mr. Prime Minister, for helping secure nearly 1 million rounds of ammunition for Ukraine. And I’m committed to — we’re committed to doing our part.
The Congress has to pass the continued funding — (coughs) — excuse me — which has significant from the United States and pass our bipartisan national security bill. They have to do it now — now. There’s overwhelming support in the House and Senate if they’ll — the Speaker will just let a vote take place.
And, you know, because as the Czech Republic remembers: Russia won’t stop in Ukraine. Russia will not stop in Ukraine. The impact on NATO would be significant. And Putin is going to keep going, putting Europe, the United States, and the entire world at risk if we don’t stop them in Ukraine.
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic Before Bilateral Meeting. 04/15/2024.
Prime Minister Fiala:
In 1968, I was a little boy. In 1968, I saw Russian tanks in the streets of my town. And I don’t want to see this again.
[snip]
Mr. President, I appreciate your leadership in support of Ukraine. We are also doing our best to help Ukraine and to stop Putin’s aggression.
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic Before Bilateral Meeting. 04/15/2024.
President Biden:
And so, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you, again, for being here today. I look forward to our discussion. I’m really delighted you’re here — really delighted you’re here.
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic Before Bilateral Meeting. 04/15/2024.
Care Workers Tweet
From Tuesday…
From child care and elder care to the lack of paid leave, women bear the brunt of our broken care economy.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 16, 2024
We saw it during the pandemic when 2 million women left their jobs to help their families.
It hurts our economy, and it keeps women from earning the pay they deserve.
Remarks by President Biden on the Care Economy | Washington, D.C.; the YouTube is 18 minutes and 51 seconds long:
Look, more often than not, from childcare to eldercare to the lack of paid leave, it’s women who bear the brunt — (applause) — women who bear the brunt.
We saw that during the pandemic when 2 million women left their jobs to help take care of their families. It hurts our whole economy to lose so much talent in the workplace. And it keeps women from earning the equal pay they deserve because they say, “Well, you haven’t been here.”
Remarks by President Biden on the Care Economy. 04/09/2024.
From Wednesday…
For seniors and people with disabilities, I'm going to expand Medicaid home care services to reduce the 700,000-person backlog.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 17, 2024
More folks will be able to live and work in their own communities with dignity.
And more home care workers will get the pay and benefits they deserve.
Second, seniors and people with disabilities, we’re going to expand Medicaid homecare services and reduce that 700,000-person backlog. (Applause.) That’ll mean more folks can live and work in their own communities with dignity and independence. More homecare workers will start getting a better pay and benefits and dignity they deserve. (Applause.)
Remarks by President Biden on the Care Economy. 04/09/2024.
From the White House…
04/09/2024:
04/11/2024:
- Readout of White House Care Convening; the White House YouTube of the event is 1 hour and 5 minutes long
04/17/2024:
Under our new proposal, if you owe more now than when you first started paying your student loans, we would cancel up to $20,000 in runaway interest.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 16, 2024
And for low- and middle-class families enrolled in my SAVE plan, we would cancel all of your interest.
Remarks by President Biden on Lowering Costs for Americans | Madison, Wisconsin; the YouTube is 18 minutes and 59 seconds long.
First, my administration will propose a new rule to cancel up to $20,000 in runaway interest for any borrower that owes more now — (applause) — owes more now than when they started paying the loan. (Applause.) That make — it’s a big difference.
And for low- and middle-class families enrolled in my SAVE program, we’ll cancel all of your interest — all of your interest. (Applause.)
Remarks by President Biden on Lowering Costs for Americans | Madison, Wisconsin. 04/08/2024.
From the White House…
04/08/2024:
Women in Sports Inspire us All Tweet
From Tuesday…
Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 16, 2024
But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share.
It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.
“New” from the White House…
04/16/2024:
- Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby En Route Avoca, PA; the YouTube is 13 minutes and 3 seconds long.
04/17/2024:
This is an Open Thread.
