Darin LaHood, a U.S. Representative from Illinois, expressed concerns about a proposed partnership between the U.S. and China in the auto sector. He warned that such an alliance could expose Illinois and U.S. workers to predatory tactics by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and increase reliance on China. LaHood made these remarks on X, a social media platform.
"The CCP will use any tool at its disposal to hollow out critical industries," said Darin McKay LaHood. "including the U.S. auto industry, and undermine global economic competitiveness. We must continue to work with our like-minded allies to combat the CCP's predatory economic tactics and protect American workers."
According to LaHood, the CCP is targeting the U.S. auto industry through unfair competition and subsidies. He emphasized the importance of international alliances to counter these tactics, which he believes threaten domestic manufacturing and job security. This stance aligns with his broader advocacy against CCP economic aggression in critical sectors.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), Ford's proposed partner, has been designated as a Chinese military company by the U.S. Department of Defense, barring it from federal contracts. Under the Inflation Reduction Act rules, entities linked to foreign entities of concern like CATL are ineligible for the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit, preventing U.S. subsidies from flowing to firms aligned with the CCP. Republican lawmakers argue that this restriction protects American taxpayers from funding foreign adversaries.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party reported that arrangements between Ford and CATL could enable data access and technology leakage to Beijing, similar to past industry losses like solar technology to China. The report highlighted that Chinese auto exports have surged to over 5 million vehicles annually, subsidized below cost, posing risks to 1 million U.S. jobs in the sector. Bipartisan reports underscore how such partnerships displace domestic investment and heighten national security vulnerabilities.
LaHood was born and raised in Peoria and has served as both a federal and state prosecutor before representing Illinois in Congress following a special election in 2015. Appointed to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party in 2022, he co-chairs the bipartisan U.S.-China Working Group and serves on the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, focusing on protecting American workers from CCP economic aggression.
