Ford Faces U.S. Pressure Over China Partnerships

The Trump administration has pressed Ford Motor to cut ties with Chinese companies, accusing its cooperation with CATL, Geely and BYD of threatening U.S. national security and manufacturing, according to ETNet. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote to Ford CEO Jim Farley on Tuesday, saying the automaker's growing reliance on Chinese technology and partners raises concerns over national and economic security, supply-chain risk and dependence on foreign adversary technology. Duffy specifically cited Ford's links with CATL, saying he was shocked that Ford's Michigan plant uses CATL technology to make batteries. He also noted that CATL has been placed on a U.S. Defense Department blacklist over alleged ties to the Chinese military. Ford said in a statement that Duffy's letter was "a misguided attempt to grab headlines at the expense of one of the companies that has contributed most to U.S. manufacturing."