Andres Picon, Reporter, Politico | Politico
Andres Picon, Reporter, Politico | Politico
House Republicans have introduced an amendment to a spending bill that could stop the federal government from purchasing vehicles made by Ford and Tesla. The concern centers around these automakers' connections with the Chinese battery company CATL, according to Andres Picon, a reporter for Politico. Picon said on X, "Tucked into a House GOP spending bill amendment this week was a provision that, if enacted, could effectively bar the government from buying vehicles made by Ford and potentially Tesla." He added that the GOP has national security concerns about these ties.
The amendment is part of the Financial Services-General Government bill and seeks to prevent the General Services Administration (GSA) from acquiring vehicles from companies like Ford and Tesla due to their licensing agreements with CATL. This reflects broader Republican worries about national security risks linked to partnerships with Chinese technology firms.
The U.S. General Services Administration oversees a federal fleet of over 650,000 vehicles, purchasing tens of thousands of new models annually. If implemented, this rule would exclude automakers associated with CATL from procurement processes, thus avoiding taxpayer dollars supporting firms connected to Chinese technology.
Critics argue that including Ford and Tesla in the federal fleet enhances Beijing's influence over crucial supply chains. Bloomberg reports that Ford has partnered with CATL for a licensed battery plant in Michigan, while Tesla continues sourcing batteries from CATL for its electric vehicle expansion. Opponents claim such reliance embeds Chinese technology within America's electric vehicle infrastructure.
Supporters of the GOP amendment believe it is essential to counter China's dominance in battery production by banning federal purchases of vehicles from these manufacturers.
Picon covers Congress and energy policy at Politico and has previously worked at various other publications. He holds a journalism degree from Boston University.
Information from this article can be found here.
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