Raimondo Spells Out Biden’s Strategy for Competing with China

In a speech last week at MIT, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo detailed the Biden administration’s strategy for competing with China in developing critical technologies while also leaving room for continued academic and economic relations.

Reiterating recent remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Raimondo said the administration aims for the U.S. to maintain “as large a lead as possible” in three priority technology areas: computing-related technologies such as microelectronics, quantum information science, and artificial intelligence; biotechnology and biomanufacturing; and clean energy.

She also identified strategies the U.S. is pursuing to maintain its edge, including industrial subsidies , export controls and outbound investment restrictions , a newfound focus on regional innovation and supply-chain security, and the buildout of multilateral alliances such as the Quad, AUKUS, and the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council.

She applauded MIT for developing a risk management framework that will inform decisions on what types of research partnerships to pursue with China. At the same time, Raimondo stressed the administration does not seek to “decouple” the U.S. economy from China and welcomed continued academic exchanges and immigration from China, echoing remarks made in May by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

She highlighted new flexibilities the administration has created in existing visa programs to encourage STEM immigration and said it is ready to work with Congress to implement farther-reaching reforms.