That industrial push, which has change into a key a part of President Joe Biden’s reelection marketing campaign, has promised to ship 1000’s of jobs and bolster provide chains that Washington sees doubtlessly in danger from Beijing.
The probe follows an analogous investigation unveiled by the China choose committee earlier this week into enterprise capital companies’ Chinese tech investments, and comes a number of weeks after 4 U.S. lawmakers traveled to Detroit to press the CEOs of Ford and General Motors to chop their provide chains’ reliance on China.
The letter to Ford asks the corporate to element the variety of Chinese nationals who shall be employed at its plant in Michigan, together with their visa standing and the way lengthy they’ll keep within the U.S. It additionally raised questions on CATL’s connection to Xinjiang Zhicun Lithium, an organization it bought in February within the Chinese western province of Xinjiang, the place the U.S. has accused China of utilizing pressured labor.
Lawmakers additionally requested particulars concerning the expertise, battery elements and uncooked supplies that can come from China, elevating issues that Chinese companies will be capable of make the most of U.S. tax breaks and advantages geared toward supporting America’s EV trade and provide chains.
T.R. Reid, a Ford spokesman, stated the corporate is reviewing the letter and can reply quickly.
“Broadly, a lot of what’s been said and implied about this project is wrong,” Reid stated. The Michigan plant with CATL shall be “built and run by a wholly owned Ford subsidiary, creating 2,500 new American jobs in the process.”
The committee chairmen gave Ford a deadline to reply by Aug. 10.
Source: www.autonews.com
