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Following semiconductors and electric vehicles, the United States today issued an executive order encouraging ‘made in the United States’ in the biotechnology sector as well.
The Biden administration’s ‘Made in America’ offensive continues to expand its reach.
Correspondent Wang Jong-myung from Washington.
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Early last year, when the COVID-19 virus began to spread,
American society, unable to cope with the increasing number of patients, was in a situation where there was a shortage of medical staff and medicines, as well as even cotton swabs for corona tests.
[지나 레이몬도/로드 아일랜드 주지사(2020년 3월)]
“The problem is the swabs. I have spent half the day asking the Centers for Disease Control, the federal government and the Disaster Management Agency when they will supply swabs.”
To make up for this shame, President Biden, when he took office early last year, promised to ensure a strong supply chain in four key areas, including semiconductors and batteries, rare minerals and medical drugs.
And this year, following the laws related to semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries, today, an executive order has been given to all ministries to find ways to encourage production in the United States as well as in the biotechnology and bio industries.
Two days later, all relevant ministries will gather and hold a meeting to announce a large-scale investment and support plan for biotechnology cultivation, and a detailed cultivation plan will be released six months later.
Shortly after signing the executive order, President Biden specifically emphasized ‘Made in America’ in the medical field.
[조 바이든/미국 대통령]
“I have signed an executive order directing the federal government that biotechnology be invented and manufactured in the United States.”
Analysts say this measure reflects the sense of crisis that pharmaceutical production cannot be entrusted to high-tech bio-production facilities abroad, especially in China.
A South Korean government official predicted, “We will not give an extreme prescription to block production outside the United States, but there is a good chance that it will encourage domestic production to gradually reduce foreign production.”
Korea, which is working hard in the field of biotechnology with the words ‘bio, health’, has no choice but to react sensitively.
This is even more true because I have proven that the United States does not even consider its economic and security ally, South Korea, to foster the production of electric vehicles in the country.
This is Jongmyung Wang from MBC News from Washington.
Video coverage: Park Ji-yoon (Washington) / Video editing: Park Byeong-geun
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