Ford Motor Company on Tuesday pushed back against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's criticism of the automaker's business dealings in China, accusing the cabinet official of peddling misinformation to generate political attention.
In a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, Duffy expressed "profound concern" over what he described as the company's "reliance on technologies of foreign adversaries." The secretary wrote that when a company "intentionally chooses to deepen operational dependencies on strategic competitors, it fails to act as the reliable partner the American public and this DOT require."
A Ford spokesperson, in a statement shared with NewsNation, dismissed the letter as a "wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines." The spokesperson defended Ford's domestic footprint, asserting that the company 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.
"While our crosstown rivals and foreign-based competitors increasingly rely on foreign-made vehicles from Japan, Mexico and Korea, Ford is doubling down on America," the spokesperson said.
Duffy's letter, sent last week, urged Ford to prioritize American workers and supply chains, specifically flagging the automaker's use of technology from Amperex Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese battery manufacturer on the Defense Department's list of banned companies. Ford responded that its arrangement with Amperex is a "limited technology-licensing and services agreement, not a joint venture or foreign-owned manufacturing operation."
Duffy, however, maintained that iconic American companies like Ford must "out-innovate competitors" and "chart clear paths to technological self-reliance." He added that Ford must 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 Ford spokesperson also disputed Duffy's claim that the company delayed moving production of its Lincoln model to the U.S., calling the letter's contents "factual errors." The spokesperson said Ford supports the Trump administration's vision for advancing American innovation and manufacturing, but noted that "had Secretary Duffy reached out before issuing his letter to the press, we would have been happy to share more details about Ford's U.S. commitment."
The clash comes as the administration steps up scrutiny of corporate ties to China, a theme that has also surfaced in other arenas, including the Treasury secretary's push for tougher sanctions on Iran and China. The Transportation Department has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The dispute also highlights the administration's broader focus on supply chain security, particularly in the automotive sector, where Duffy has supported rolling back fuel-efficiency standards he views as burdensome. Meanwhile, the Pentagon's list of banned Chinese companies continues to shape corporate decisions, as seen in the ongoing lunar race with China, where technology dependencies are also under scrutiny.
