Trump Administration Opens Civil Rights Probes Into Five U.S. Medical Schools Over Admissions 
Global Leaders Push Back as Trump Imposes New Forced Labor Tariffs 
Trump Administration Imposes New Forced Labor Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners 
Trump Threatens Iran With 'Major Military Punishment' as Red Sea Attacks Push Oil Above $100 
Trump Orders Section 301 Probe Into EU Tech Fines, Signals New Tariffs 
US Probes Possible Russian Role in Iranian Drone Strikes on CIA Sites 
Rubio Urges Global Isolation of Nicaragua After Ortega Vows to End Elections 
Canada Vows Trade Fight as Trump Imposes 50% Tariffs 
US-Mexico USMCA Talks Advance as Auto Rules Remain Major Sticking Point 
Iran Rejects U.S.-Backed Ceasefire as Trump Escalates Military Threats, Oil Tops $100 
UN Rights Chief Volker Turk Faces Opposition Over Second Term Bid 
Juan Orlando Hernandez Seeks Dismissal of Honduras Charges After Trump Pardon 
Trump Administration Monitors OpenAI Incident as Lawmakers Push AI Kill Switch Bill 
Russia Says It Hit Ukrainian Ports, Cargo Ships in Odesa and Chornomorsk 
ASEAN Forum Puts Middle East Conflict, South China Sea Tensions in Spotlight 
US Plans Closer Coordination With Erik Prince-Linked Security Firm in Haiti Amid Drone Strike Concerns 
Among the campaign promises and goals that US President Joe Biden has made in his ascent to the presidency was to focus on clean energy and electric vehicles. In another environmental move, the White House announced that Biden is expected to set the goal of having half of US cars sold by 2030 to be zero-emission vehicles.
The White House announced the plans for Biden to set the target of half of all US cars that would be sold by 2030 to become zero-emission vehicles. Biden will be signing an executive order to address the target, and this would include types of electric vehicles. The order will be signed Thursday in another move to address and combat the climate change crisis as well as attempt to outcompete China in the field.
“The President will sign an Executive Order that sets an ambitious new target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery-electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles,” the White House said in a statement.
Three of the country’s major vehicle manufacturers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, all expressed their aspiration to achieve the goal of having 40 to 50 percent of their electric vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2030. Other car manufacturers such as Volvo, BMW, Volkswagen, and Honda also praised the initiative. The United Auto Workers Union, one of the largest unions in the country, also expressed support for the goal.
“The members of the UAW, current and future, are ready to build these electric cars and trucks and the batteries that go in them,” said UAW President Ray Curry in a statement released through the White House. “Our members are America’s secret weapon in winning this global race.”
While most of the major car manufacturers are expected to be present at the event, there was one manufacturer that was evidently absent. The UAW, along with Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors, are expected to be with Biden on Thursday except for Tesla, the manufacturer known for its electric vehicles. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was pressed on why Tesla was not invited to the clean car event at the White House.
Buttigieg simply replied, “I’m not sure.” Buttigieg then steered away from Tesla and said that the administration is looking forward to making sure Americans drive electric vehicles in the future.
