The House Select Committee on the CCP announced that American companies must prioritize national security over profits, citing risks from partnerships with Chinese firms involved in military or sensitive technology projects.
According to a press release from the Select Committee on the CCP, the Washington Examiner published an editorial urging American businesses to avoid collaborations with Chinese companies that could pose threats to U.S. national security. The editorial references a letter sent by the committee to Ford CEO Jim Farley regarding the company's collaboration with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), a company linked to the Chinese military. It also points out potential violations of federal tax credit laws involving foreign entities and cites a December report on taxpayer-funded collaborations with Chinese entities at the Department of Energy.
The Detroit News reported that residents in Marshall, Michigan, have expressed opposition to a Ford-CATL battery plant through protests, recall campaigns against township officials who approved the project, and legal challenges related to zoning and ties to Chinese entities. Concerns include environmental impacts, national security risks due to affiliations with the CCP, and community disruption. Despite this opposition, the project is still scheduled for completion in 2026 without major delays or cancellations. A 2025 court ruling has provided additional avenues for challengers; however, construction continues on a scaled-back schedule.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimates that intellectual property theft costs the U.S. economy between $225 billion and $600 billion annually, identifying China as a significant contributor through trade secret theft, counterfeiting, and forced technology transfers. Reports suggest these activities involve government-linked actors infiltrating computer systems to gain commercial advantages for Chinese companies, impacting American innovation, jobs, and military competitiveness.
The House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP was established in January 2023 to investigate China's economic, technological, and security advancements in competition with the United States and develop policy recommendations. Led by Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, it operates with bipartisan support to protect American interests through hearings and reports addressing issues such as supply chain vulnerabilities and research collaborations.
