U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has sharply criticized Ford Motor Company's business dealings with Chinese automotive firms, stating that the company's "reliance on technologies of foreign adversaries" is unsustainable for America. In a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, Duffy expressed "profound concern" over Ford's strategic decisions, which he believes actively intertwine the foundational American brand with Chinese state-backed enterprises. He urged Ford to cut ties with companies like CATL, Geely, and BYD, and emphasized the need for American companies to prioritize domestic workers and supply chains.
Ford, in response, called Duffy's letter "wrongheaded" and a "wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines" in a statement. A Ford spokesperson highlighted that Ford is "the most American automaker," producing more vehicles in the U.S., employing more hourly manufacturing workers, and exporting more vehicles from the U.S. than any other automaker. They also clarified that their ties to Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) are a "limited technology-licensing and services agreement, not a joint venture or foreign-owned manufacturing operation," refuting Duffy's claims of factual errors in his letter.
Duffy's criticism comes amidst increasing pressure from the Trump administration on American manufacturers to produce domestically and reduce dependencies on foreign, particularly Chinese, technology. The Secretary emphasized that iconic American companies like Ford are expected to out-innovate competitors and demonstrate corporate citizenship that prioritizes the long-term resilience and technological sovereignty of the United States automotive ecosystem over short-term arrangements or questionable foreign alliances. The exchange reflects growing tensions between the administration and major U.S. companies regarding their global supply chains and foreign partnerships.
