Gordon Chang, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, said that Ford should be prohibited from partnering with Chinese company BYD—a foreign entity of concern linked to the Chinese Communist Party—for sourcing hybrid vehicles in overseas markets.
"Prohibit Ford from partnering with China's BYD," said Chang.
Chang posted his statement on X in response to White House Senior Counselor Peter Navarro's post questioning Ford's potential battery arrangement with BYD. The arrangement is reportedly based on discussions where Ford seeks BYD's cost-effective batteries for hybrid models at international factories.
According to Bridge Michigan, the auto industry in Michigan generates $348 billion in economic output and supports about 20% of the state's jobs with an $83 billion payroll. Ford maintains major facilities in Dearborn, employing thousands in vehicle assembly and related operations. Partnering with BYD could expose these regional jobs to supply chain disruptions and undermine U.S. independence from Chinese critical minerals for electric vehicles (EVs).
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that China controls 46% of global raw battery mineral imports and 53% of battery material exports while producing 85% of the world's battery cells by value. The United States imports nearly 75% of its lithium-ion batteries from China, creating vulnerabilities in hybrid and EV supply chains. Promoting domestic sourcing of critical minerals would advance U.S. independence from Chinese dominance in global auto manufacturing.
Chang is also known as the author of "The Coming Collapse of China" and "Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World." He lived and worked in China and Hong Kong for almost two decades, most recently serving as counsel to an American law firm in Shanghai. Additionally, he contributes columns to The Daily Beast, Forbes.com, and blogs at World Affairs Journal.
