Business & Economy

Business & Economy

The Big Story 

Two White House officials who were supposed to travel to Detroit amid the strikes will remain in Washington, D.C. 

© AP Photo/Paul Sancya

President Biden announced last week that acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and senior adviser Gene Sperling would head to Detroit to offer support as the United Auto Workers and the “Big Three” auto companies broker a deal. 

But that’s no longer the plan: The administration will continue to monitor talks between the two sides from the nation’s capital, a White House official confirmed on Tuesday. 

“Given that negotiations are ongoing between the negotiating parties, it is most productive for Sperling and Su to continue their discussions from Washington and allow talks to move forward,” a White House official said in a statement. 

“The President stands with UAW workers, and believes that record corporate profits must mean record contracts for the UAW,” the official added. 

UAW auto workers launched a targeted strike last week after the union failed to reach a deal with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. 

The union’s demands include increased pay and benefits, as well as job security guarantees as auto companies transition toward manufacturing electric vehicles. 

While Biden has touted himself as the most pro-union president in history, he has also upped incentives for electric vehicles as part of his climate agenda.

The Hill’s Brett Samuels has more here. 

Welcome to The Hill’s Business & Economy newsletter, we’re Aris Folley and Taylor Giorno — covering the intersection of Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Essential Reads 

Key business and economic news with implications this week and beyond:

DeSantis on new energy plan: ‘We want to give people relief at the pump’

UAW president: Economy ‘enriches people like Donald Trump’ at workers’ expense

Americans’ support for UAW strike ticks upward: survey

Lobbying Line 

The latest moves in some of Washington’s biggest lobbying battles:

Big Tech is revving up for another antitrust battle: The Association for Competitive Technology hired CGCN Group to lobby on congressional antitrust issues, including the American Innovation and Choice Online Act.

The bipartisan bill, which would prohibit tech companies from self-preferencing their products on their platforms, didn’t make it into a government spending package at the end of the last Congress after an industry lobbying blitz.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reintroduced the legislation in June, setting the stage for another showdown. The Hill’s Taylor Giorno has more here.

The Ticker 

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

In Other News 

Branch out with more stories from the day:

Kraft Heinz is recalling some American cheese slices because the wrappers could pose choking hazard

NEW YORK (AP) — Some organizations representing minority journalists say they’re worried that outlets reporting on their communities will be left behind in a recently-announced $500 million initiative aimed at boosting the struggling local news industry.

Good to Know 

Business and economic news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

What Others are Reading 

Top stories on The Hill right now:

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Tuberville to try going around his own blockade to confirm Marine commandant

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) told senators that he will attempt to force a one-off vote on Wednesday to confirm Gen. Eric Smith to become the new commandant for the Marine Corps while he maintains his blockade on more than 300 military promotions. Read more

What People Think 

An opinion related to business and economic issues submitted to The Hill: