Trump administration expresses ‘profound concern’ over Ford’s ties to China
Trump administration expresses 'profound concern' over Ford's ties to China. Evelyn Hockstein | ReutersThe Trump administration expressed "profound concern" Tuesday about Ford Motor's ties to Chinese companies that it believes could be detrimental to the Detroit carmaker and U.
What happened
"In response, Ford defended its stance as America's top-producing carmaker and said it "supports the Trump administration's vision for advancing American innovation and manufacturing," In this articleFFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTU. "Ford supports the Trump administration's vision for advancing American innovation and manufacturing," the company said. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty ImagesTrump administration attacks UK plans to boost traditional media on social platformsUS embassy says Downing Street’s plan to give BBC, ITV and other established media more online visibility carries risk of ‘censorship’The Trump administration has raised “serious concerns” over Downing Street’s plan to force YouTube and other digital platforms to hand more prominence to established broadcasters, warning the move risks “facilitating censorship”.
“Preserving a free, open internet and protecting freedom of expression online are top priorities for the Trump administration,” it said. As examples, Duffy cited Ford's ties to Chinese companies such as battery provider CATL and referenced a framework proposed during an auto show earlier this year in Detroit "to facilitate Chinese joint ventures on United States soil. President Donald Trump and CEO of Ford Jim Farley clap, as President Trump visits a Ford production center, in Dearborn, Michigan, U.
S. automotive industry and the Trump administration, which has caused uncertainty with its changes to trade and federal rules and regulations.
The wider picture
S. and China as well as Ford's plan to use the battery technologies for energy storage systems. Michael Wayland/CNBC Duffy urged Farley, who has been complimentary of Chinese competitors as well as the Trump administration's attempt to promote U. S. manufacturing, to "reflect on these concerns and national necessities and adopt reasonable strategies that prioritize American workers, utilize allied supply chains, and promote the self-reliance and integrity of the domestic automotive industry. Explore more on these topicsTrump administrationDigital mediaSocial mediaYouTubeBBCITV plcTelevision industrynewsShareReuse this contentMost viewedMost viewed
In a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, U. S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy questioned the automaker's strategic trajectory involving Chinese companies. In a letter addressed to Ford CEO Jim Farley, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy questioned the automaker's strategic trajectory with Chinese companies "as it pertains to American national automotive manufacturing integrity, supply chain exposure, and reliance on technologies of foreign adversaries. "Ford, which regularly touts its position as the top-producing automaker in the U.
Ford said those errors included Duffy's comments about Farley proposing a joint-venture framework for Chinese automakers to enter the U.
What has been reported
"Ford has a licensing agreement to utilize battery technologies, including the production of lithium iron phosphate batteries, from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. , or CATL. Ford's deal with CATL was originally announced in 2023 but has drawn renewed attention amid tensions between the U. Ford CEO Jim Farley at a battery lab for the automaker in suburban Detroit, announcing a new $3. "Ford urged Duffy to more openly communicate with the company. "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.
The US government would likely consider such a measure as facilitating censorship. ”The administration has asked what safeguards will be in place to ensure “any biases and preferences of UK government officials and third-party organisations” do not influence the plan in ways that disadvantage “independent or minority-viewpoint journalism”. Show moreDonald Trump also has a long record of attacking and bypassing the established media, regularly accusing major outlets of “fake news” and biased coverage. The BBC has apologised for the edit, but stated the show did not defame Trump.
What happens next
Simon Squibb, a UK YouTube creator, said he was encouraged that his concerns were shared by an “entity that I think politicians will listen to”. S. , called the letter a "wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines. " It also defended its stance as America's top-producing carmaker and said it employs more hourly workers in the country than any other automaker, while calling out "factual errors" in the letter. The letter is the latest incident in a series of contentious discussions between the U.
"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's letter read. 5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in the state to produce lithium iron phosphate batteries, Feb. "— CNBC's Meghan Reeder and Phil LeBeau contributed to this report.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across cnbc.com, theguardian.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.