U.S. Officials Demand Ford Cut Its Technology Ties With China

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley demanding that the automaker abandon strategic partnerships with Chinese companies and scale back joint projects, arguing that reliance on Chinese technology threatens national security and costs Americans jobs.

“Ford must demonstrate a level of corporate responsibility in which the long-term sustainability and technological sovereignty of the U.S. automotive ecosystem take priority over short-term arrangements or questionable foreign alliances,” Duffy wrote, according to a letter cited by Reuters.

Duffy raised concerns about Ford’s reliance on Chinese technology and business partners. The transportation secretary criticized the automaker over its use of CATL technology in Michigan, its partnership with Geely in Spain, talks with BYD and delays in moving Lincoln production from China to the United States, urging Ford to put U.S. technological sovereignty first.

According to the letter, Duffy also took issue with the delay in bringing production of premium Lincoln models, including the Nautilus, back to the United States from China until 2030. He called the decision “unacceptable,” arguing that it would extend reliance on Chinese manufacturing for years while denying jobs to skilled American workers.

In the closing section of the letter, Duffy called on Farley to shift Ford’s focus toward U.S. technological sovereignty, turn to suppliers from allied nations and prioritize long-term sustainability over questionable foreign alliances.

Earlier in September, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation called on Congress to impose a complete ban on Chinese vehicles and everything associated with them.

In May, meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the import of internet-connected vehicles from China, Iran and North Korea beginning in 2027. The bill was introduced by lawmakers from Michigan, the nation’s traditional automotive hub.

Chinese officials in Beijing have repeatedly called on the United States to stop making what they describe as irresponsible accusations and applying pressure, while emphasizing that China follows international trade rules. Chinese authorities have argued that Washington’s attempts to blame domestic economic problems on outside factors will not solve them, and that unilateral U.S. sanctions violate the principles of a market economy. Beijing maintains that dialogue between the two countries should be based solely on equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit.