Joe Biden, US lawmakers working on parallel tracks to bolster China tech policy
- The administration puts together a team of advisers to devise a policy that strikes a balance between national security and technological innovation
- Congress moves to secure massive funding for domestic tech companies and research labs, which must compete against counterparts that get subsidies from Beijing
In the final article in a five-part series on US-China technology policies, Jodi Xu Klein looks at the status of United States efforts six months into a new presidency and new session of Congress. The first part of the series, on how China policies vary in different US agencies, is here; the second part, on Huawei Technologies’ prospects, is here; the third, on Chinese supply-chain woes, is here. The fourth, on the battle for talent, is here.
His first move was to create a new job to advise and coordinate three White House technology and national security teams. Tech policy veteran Jason Matheny was chosen for the position in March.
In May, scientist Eric Lander was confirmed as the director at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), with the role newly elevated to cabinet level. And last week, former Pentagon official Alan Estevez was nominated to lead US tech export control in the Commerce Department.
All three picks have expertise straddling multiple areas of defence, technology and public policy.
With these positions, the administration is putting together a team of senior advisers to devise a China policy that strikes a balance between national security and technological innovation, and also guides US institutions and companies on how to best allocate hundreds of billions of dollars in tech research and manufacturing funding that is being finalised in Congress.
