‘Unlevel Playing Field:’ Former Ford CEO Mark Fields Calls For Short-Term Ban On Chinese Rivals To Aid US Automakers

As the debate over allowing Chinese automakers into the U.S. market intensifies, former Ford CEO Mark Fields voiced his opinion, advocating for a temporary restriction on their entry.

‘Unfair’ Playing Field: Fields in a CNBC interview argued that Chinese companies benefit from government incentives and grants, giving them an unfair advantage. Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co (OTC:BYDDF) (OTC:BYDDY), however, has refuted this.

Field compared this to China’s past strategies in other industries like aluminum and steel, highlighting the potential for significant economic impact in the auto industry.

“The U.S. should for a period of time, not for forever, but for a period, prevent these Chinese vehicles from coming into the marketplace,” he said.

“And so when you look at the advantages that they’ve had, combined with you know their playbook which China has used in the past, whether you look at aluminum or steel, the difference here is the economic impact of the auto industry is multiple times those other industries.”

Ultimately, Chinese automakers have to get the nod, Fields suggested. “And they’re going to have to because they compete with them globally. But I absolutely do believe for a period of time they should, because it’s unlevel playing field,” he said.