US senators and representatives have recently criticized Ford Motor Company’s agreement to purchase batteries from Chinese company Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL). The agreement, which was announced in July 2020, will see Ford purchase batteries for its electric vehicles from CATL for the next eight years.
The criticism has come from both sides of the aisle, with Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois both expressing their concerns about the agreement. In a joint statement, the senators said that they were “deeply concerned” about the agreement and that it could “pose a significant risk to American national security.”
The senators also noted that CATL is a state-owned enterprise and that it has close ties to the Chinese government. They argued that this could lead to the Chinese government having access to sensitive information about Ford’s electric vehicles, which could be used to gain an advantage in the global market.
In addition, the senators expressed concern about the potential for CATL to use its access to Ford’s technology to gain an unfair advantage in the global market. They argued that this could lead to a situation where US companies are unable to compete with Chinese companies on a level playing field.
The senators also noted that the agreement could lead to job losses in the US, as Ford would no longer need to purchase batteries from US-based suppliers. They argued that this could have a negative impact on the US economy and on American workers.
Ford has defended the agreement, arguing that it is necessary in order to meet its goal of producing more electric vehicles. The company has also noted that it has taken steps to ensure that its technology remains secure.
The criticism of Ford’s agreement with CATL highlights the growing tensions between the US and China over trade and technology. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved, but it is clear that US senators and representatives are taking a hard line on this issue.
