Biden Seeks to Ease Supply Chain Problems
President Joe Biden announced measures to ease the glut at several of the nation’s ports creating delays with the supply chain. The president announced plans to keep the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach running seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Mr. Biden is also considering enlisting the National Guard to help unload shipments from cargo ships currently anchored off the Pacific coast. The supply chain in the U.S. has been slowed because of a variety of factors including the shortage of dock workers and truck drivers.
What global event has most contributed to the supply chain problems?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
How the Supply Chain Broke, and Why It Won’t Be Fixed Anytime Soon
New York Times
10/22/21
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/business/shortages-supply-chain.html
Biden Announces Measures at Major Ports to Battle Supply Chain Woes
New York Times
10/22/21
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/us/politics/biden-port-los-angeles-supply-chain.html
Biden says he’s considering deploying the National Guard to ease supply chain crisis
CNN
10/21/21
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/21/politics/supply-chain-national-guard-trucking-joe-biden/index.html
The supply chain meltdown will make holiday shopping messy this year. Here’s what you need to know.
Washington Post
10/21/21
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/10/21/start-holiday-shopping-early-2021/
News Articles (Analysis):
Supply chain chaos is already hitting global growth. And it’s about to get worse
CNBC
10/19/21
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/supply-chain-chaos-is-hitting-global-growth-and-could-get-worse.html
Global Supply Chain Gridlock Cuts Across All Industries, Including Energy
Forbes
10/17/21
Neighborhood streets clogged by trucks hauling shipping containers
CBS News
10/22/21
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supply-chain-issues-shipping-containers-california-ports-2021/
Buttigieg warns some supply chain problems will persist into 2022
Politico
10/17/21
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/17/buttigieg-supply-chain-problems-2022-516145
Assessment:
Writing: Explain why some of President Biden’s staunchest allies are concerned about the political fallout from an extended supply chain crisis. Will President Biden deserve blame if the supply chain crisis is not resolved expeditiously?
Debate: Do you think that the current supply chain crisis will lead to a manufacturing boom in the United States?
Poll: Have you been personally affected by the supply chain crisis?
Short Answer: Why do some economists believe that the supply chain crisis will last well into 2022?
QUIZ:
How much was a container shipping goods from Shanghai to Los Angeles costing in early 2021?
a. $2,536
b. $10,070
c. $25,000
d. $54,030
Scarcity of which product has led to shortages of new automobiles?
a. steel
c. rubber
c. glass
d. semiconductors
Who did President Biden suggest might be brought in as reinforcement to help unload product from container ships?
a. college students
b. Guantanamo Bay detainees
c. federal prisoners
d. the National Guard
September saw the highest increase in the consumer-price index recorded in ten years. (T/F)
President Biden assigned Vice President Harris the task of solving the supply chain crisis. (T/F)
All the supply chain problems can be traced back to pandemic lockdown policies in India. (T/F)
