The Trump administration has warned Ford Motor that its deepening ties with Chinese companies could undermine American automotive manufacturing, according to a letter sent to the Detroit automaker’s CEO on Tuesday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote to Ford CEO Jim Farley expressing “profound concern” over the company’s strategic direction, specifically citing its relationship with Chinese battery giant CATL and a framework floated at a Detroit auto show earlier this year that envisioned Chinese joint ventures operating on U.S. soil.
The letter, reported by CNBC, challenges Ford over what Duffy described as threats to “American national automotive manufacturing integrity, supply chain exposure, and reliance on technologies of foreign adversaries.”
Duffy’s remarks zero in on Ford’s existing licensing agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., or CATL, which allows Ford to use the Chinese company’s battery technologies, including production of lithium iron phosphate batteries. That deal was first announced in 2023, but it has attracted fresh scrutiny as U.S.-China tensions simmer and as Ford plans to deploy the battery tech in energy storage systems.
‘Troubling picture’’
“While DOT recognizes the intense competitive pressures of the global market, the Company’s recent strategic decisions paint a troubling picture of a foundational American brand actively intertwining its future with Chinese state-backed enterprises,” Duffy wrote in his letter.
Ford, which frequently highlights its status as the top-producing automaker in the U.S., did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Duffy urged Farley — who has publicly praised Chinese competitors as well as the Trump administration’s push to bolster U.S. manufacturing — to think carefully about the administration’s concerns and adopt “reasonable strategies that prioritize American workers, utilize allied supply chains, and promote the self-reliance and integrity of the domestic automotive industry.”
The letter adds to a growing list of actions by the administration targeting foreign influence in critical industries, and it signals that the White House is keeping a close eye on how traditionally American automakers navigate their global operations.
Industry watchers will be watching for Ford’s next move — whether it adjusts its China partnerships to appease regulators or pushes back against what it may view as market-driven decisions.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/08/ford-china-dot-sean-duffy.html
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