US President Joe Biden’s government has not indicated a comprehensive "rip and replace" strategy for existing Chinese-made port cranes despite expressing concerns about their potential vulnerabilities to cyber threats.
Instead, the focus is on establishing cybersecurity requirements and minimising risks within the current infrastructure.
The Biden administration aims to bolster the cybersecurity of US ports by investing over $20 billion in port infrastructure over the next five years, which includes supporting domestic manufacturing of ship-to-shore cranes.
PACECO Corporation, a US-based subsidiary of Mitsui E&S, is planning to resume domestic manufacturing capacity for American and Korean production, pending final site and partner selection.
According to reports this morning, about 80% of US port cranes are manufactured in China, using Chinese software, a state of affairs the White House wants to be changed over the next five years through a $20 billion cash injection of a US subsidiary of Mitsui.
At a press briefing yesterday, US National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger said America is serious about protecting the $5.4 trillion in revenue and 31 million job opportunities created by the country’s ports.
“The continuity of their operations has a clear and direct impact on the success of our country, our economy, and our national security. And that’s why the Biden-Harris administration is taking a series of actions to strengthen the cybersecurity of our nation’s ports to not just shore up our cyber defences, but fortify our supply chains and deliver for the American people.”
She said the administration is excited to announce the $20bn on-shoring initiative to localise crane manufacturing meant for US ports.
“As part of that, PACECO Corporation, a US-based subsidiary of Mitsui E&S, is planning to onshore domestic manufacturing capacity for American and Korean production for the first time in 30 years, pending final site and partner selection.”
The announcement has been interepreted as a major step against Donald Trump should he become the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in the November elections.
