Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticizes Ford Motor Co. for its heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing and technology.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley expressing profound concern over the automaker's business ties to Chinese firms. Duffy noted that Ford's reliance on Chinese companies, specifically battery manufacturer CATL and automakers Geely and BYD, could be detrimental to American manufacturing integrity and supply chain exposure. He highlighted that CATL is on the Pentagon's list of companies accused of having ties to China's military. Duffy urged Ford to prioritize American workers and utilize allied supply chains to promote domestic self-reliance. Ford responded by stating that Duffy's letter was a wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines. The company noted that while other manufacturers continue to import Chinese batteries, Ford is investing to build batteries within the United States, where it owns the plants, controls the operations, and employs the workforce.