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8.8. IUU fishing continues to be an important U.S. international policy priority in the areas of oceans governance and economic security. The Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement (SAFE) Act, which became law in December 2019, supports a "whole-of-government approach across the Federal Government to counter IUU fishing and related threats to maritime security" through a number of means including, inter alia: improving data sharing that enhances surveillance; advancing effective enforcement and prosecution against IUU fishing; increasing and improving global transparency and traceability across the seafood supply chain; responding to poor working conditions and labor abuses in the fishing industry; and preventing the use of IUU fishing as a financing source for transnational organized groups. To further interagency collaboration in this area, Part II of the Maritime SAFE Act called for the establishment of the Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing. The Working Group, which is comprised of 21 federal agencies, aims to employ a coordinated, cohesive, and regionally appropriate approach to combating IUU fishing and related threats to maritime security in "priority regions" and "priority flag states". On 27 June 2022, President Biden signed a National Security Memorandum (NSM) to address IUU fishing and related harmful practices. The NSM will increase coordination with diverse stakeholders – public and private, foreign and domestic. The United States will use the full range of existing conservation, labor, trade, economic, diplomatic, law enforcement, and national security authorities to address these challenges.

5. In 2021 the U.S. Administration put in place its "Build Back Better" agenda, which includes, inter alia, putting workers at the center of trade policy, tackling the COVID 19 pandemic, promoting a sustainable environment and climate path, (...)

10. (...). Amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act also imposed new prohibitions on shrimp and other fish and fish products caught in the Upper Gulf of California.

13. The two safeguard measures (on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, and large residential washers) in force before 2018 were renewed during the period under review, but no new measures were applied.

15. (...). The Export-Import Bank (EXIM), the official export credit agency, has been reauthorized through 2026. EXIM's Congressional mandates include mandates addressing small businesses, sub-Saharan Africa, environmentally beneficial goods and services, (...)

21. (...). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) assists producers in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing carbon sequestration, and adapting to a changing climate. (...)

22. (...) During the review period, the United States undertook a number of forest-related initiatives related to the environment such as launching its Plan to Conserve Global Forests. As the largest importer and second largest consumer of fish and fish products in 2018, the United States maintained a trade deficit over the period although remaining a significant producer of marine, inland, and aquaculture fish. The United States maintains verification or monitoring programs that require additional procedures upon importation, such as the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP).

23. (...) In April 2021, the administration announced a new target for U.S. economy-wide net GHG pollution: it should equal 50% to 52% of the 2005 level by 2030, and net zero emissions should be reached no later than 2050. A National Climate Task Force has been formed to mobilize action on climate change by all federal agencies. Regarding electricity generation, natural gas and renewable energy sources are gradually replacing coal-fired power plants. Federal tax credit programs play a key role in the construction of new generation capacity in renewables.

1.21. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117 58), enacted on 15 November 2021, contains appropriations for USD 1.2 trillion, of which some USD 550 billion is new spending. The new spending includes (...); over USD 50 billion for cybersecurity and climate change (to protect infrastructure from cybersecurity attacks and address flooding, wildfires, and droughts and other extreme weather events); (...); USD 21 billion for the environment; (...); USD 8 billion for western water infrastructure (water treatment, storage, and reuse facilities); USD 7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations; and USD 7.5 billion for electric school buses.

1.24. The proposed Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376), passed by the House of Representatives on 18 November 2021 but not enacted by the Senate, put together an economic package of about USD 2.2 trillion to increase spending on education, childcare, and the climate; (...). The proposed Act is intended to reduce the deficit by increasing some taxes and closing tax loopholes.[22]
[22] The Act contains total investments of (...); clean energy and climate investments (USD 555 million). Offsets total USD 1,995 billion. The White House (2021), "President Biden Announces the Build Back Better Framework", 28 October. Viewed at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/28/president-biden-announces-the-build-back-better-framework/.