by Steve Cortes
How is Trump achieving this renewal?
Bidenomics is over, and Trump 2.0 means that America’s entrepreneur president puts citizens to work, literally. For instance, the latest manufacturing numbers for February show that factory jobs just grew by the biggest jump in 15 months. Unlike his predecessor Joe Biden, who shed manufacturing jobs at a pace of -9,000/jobs per month in 2024, Trump proves the efficacy of his on-shoring approach. Moreover, 93% of the total job gains were in the private sector, rather than budget-busting government bloat positions.
How is Trump achieving this renewal?
In large part, through spurring international investment from companies and countries from around the world at a rapid clip, restoring America as a manufacturing powerhouse. He employs both carrot and stick, meaning creating the right conditions for enterprise success in America, and also punishing companies that unnecessarily offshore, especially to adversary nations like China. Smart tariff policies compel job creation at home, for Americans.
Just consider some of the recent headlines: Apple announced a $500 billion investment in the U.S., TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor giant, announced a $100 billion investment, Saudi Arabia announced a $600 billion investment.
These investments flow from President Trump’s America First Investment Policy that aims to streamline foreign direct investment (FDI) from allies while also protecting America from malign actors, like China.
After all, economic security is national security — and not all investment in the US benefits the American people. Some foreign investment makes America more reliant on hostile nations or enables them to steal American trade secrets or intellectual property.
Regarding supply lines, decades of unchecked globalization has left Americans vulnerable. Fors instance, China restricted shipments of equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic and also limited exports of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths which are critical components to American products. The list continues with drones, plus cranes at major ports – sectors that power our economy, secure our borders, and facilitate trade.
In response, President Trump initiates economic policies to safeguard our strategic industries. American industries cannot remain reliant on hostile actors for supplies, from agriculture to quantum computing. We especially must be self-sufficient in energy — meaning production, transmission, and energy storage.
President Trump insists on full-spectrum energy dominance, centered on abundant American fossil fuels — but also is committed to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that harnesses renewables. In this emerging economy, a key factor for energy independence and success is battery production.
Right now, battery technology leaps forward, becoming critical to commercial, industrial, and military players globally. For the national security and prosperity of our republic, America must lead this sector and produce world-class batteries made by US workers…in our country.
But Biden’s misbegotten (and misnamed) Inflation Reduction Act funneled US taxpayer money into direct aid to Chinese manufacturers of batteries! In fact, China now acts aggressively, in America, to force US reliance on Beijing for the energy technologies of the future.
Right now, there are more than 15 Chinese battery projects underway in the U.S., largely led by Chinese battery giant CATL, which the U.S. Department of Defense blacklisted as a Chinese military operation. The most notable project is Ford’s agreement with CATL to co-produce batteries in Michigan. Despite the clear risks to the United States, CATL convinces iconic American companies to partner up and assist China’s incursion into America’s battery production.
But Chinese companies are obligated by Chinese law to report any information that it gathers to the Chinese Communist Party. These CCP-affiliated companies present a “trojan horse” style risk, placed directly into the US production and electrical grid.
Just as President Trump convinces American auto firms to bring production back to the United States, does it make sense to allow a Chinese behemoth to gain control over battery supply chains and charging technology? How would CATL leverage that power over American manufacturing? Insultingly, current regulations would even allow these companies to receive US tax credits to build their facilities.
President Trump rightfully repealed the Biden Administration’s extreme Electric Vehicle mandates. But concurrently, President Trump can ensure American leadership in future battery technology and prevent lithium-ion batteries from becoming a future leverage industry for China over the US.
The Trump administration works already to protect America’s strategic industries, from semiconductors to medicines. This agenda should also include batteries and should deter joint ventures between US and Chinese companies like the Ford-CATL deal in Michigan. Moreover, US taxpayer dollars should never flow to Chinese companies or to American firms that collaborate with them in our homeland. In addition, federal agencies should be banned from procuring Chinese-made battery systems.
So, support American enterprises while protecting America against the predatory aims of the Chinese regime. With the right America First approach to energy and batteries, the new administration can propel American technology and infrastructure, while defending US national security and economic sovereignty.
Steve Cortes is president of the League of American Workers, a
populist right pro-laborer advocacy group, and senior political advisor
to Catholic Vote.
He is a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, plus a former commentator for Fox News and CNN.
Source: https://amgreatness.com/2025/03/23/trumps-economic-plan-truly-puts-america-first/
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