Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley is calling for a more level playing field as negotiations officially reopen for the USMCA North American trade deal. Farley told CNBC he wants automakers that largely produce vehicles domestically to be rewarded under the new agreement, while competitors like General Motors and Toyota Motor that heavily rely on imported vehicles should face more penalties. The auto industry represented about 18% of America's trading with Canada and Mexico, making it a key sector in the discussions as the Trump administration has decided not to renew the trilateral trade pact, instead opting for annual reviews.
Ford Assembled Over 2 Million Vehicles in U.S.
Ford assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year—more than any other auto manufacturer, according to the company. This included 311,000 units for export to more than 60 international markets. Ford imported 378,000 vehicles, representing 17% of its 2.2 million sales last year.
"Ford's a leader of U.S. auto production with the most U.S.-built vehicles but, more importantly, we import very few, and we export the most, and we have the most UAW [union] workers here," Farley said. "So we're very proud, especially of the ratio between what we build here and what we import."
GM and Toyota Imported Over 1 Million Vehicles Each
GM and Toyota are No. 1 and No. 2 in U.S. sales, respectively, while also being the top two importers of vehicles in 2025. GM imported 1.17 million vehicles, or 41% of its U.S. sales, while Toyota imported more than 1.19 million units, or 47% of its domestic sales, according to industry data.
Hyundai Motor, which plans to roughly double its amount of U.S.-produced domestic sales to 80% by 2030, was the largest importer of vehicles from South Korea, followed by GM. Producing in such countries is typically less expensive due to labor costs.
"It's imperative that any new agreement makes it easier, not harder, to compete with U.S. makers who import from Japan, South Korea and global competitors that import from those locations," Farley told CNBC during a phone interview Wednesday. "That's the key for us."
Trump Administration Opted for Annual Reviews
The Trump administration has decided not to renew its trilateral trade pact with Canada and Mexico, instead opting to conduct annual reviews of the treaty that could eventually lead to an end to the agreement by 2036. Automakers and others watching the talks are concerned that reopening the deal could create additional trade uncertainty that leads to lower investments and fewer jobs.
Trade Groups Urged Swift Consensus on USMCA Extension
A consortium of U.S. trade groups representing most automakers, dealers and suppliers on Wednesday voiced support for a trilateral deal like the countries currently have.
"We urge the leaders of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to swiftly reach consensus on an extension of USMCA that preserves the existing trilateral partnership, returns to preferential treatment for qualifying goods, and continues the stability and predictability that has helped the industry thrive for the past six years," they said in a statement.
FAQ
What did Ford CEO Jim Farley say about USMCA trade negotiations?
Ford CEO Jim Farley told CNBC he wants automakers that largely produce vehicles domestically to be rewarded under the new USMCA agreement, while competitors like General Motors and Toyota Motor that heavily rely on imported vehicles should face more penalties. Farley stated it is imperative that any new agreement makes it easier to compete with U.S. makers who import from Japan and South Korea.
How many vehicles did Ford assemble in the U.S. last year?
Ford assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year—more than any other auto manufacturer. This included 311,000 units for export to more than 60 international markets. Ford imported 378,000 vehicles, representing 17% of its 2.2 million sales last year.
What percentage of GM and Toyota sales were imported vehicles?
GM imported 1.17 million vehicles, or 41% of its U.S. sales, while Toyota imported more than 1.19 million units, or 47% of its domestic sales, according to industry data. Both companies are the top two importers of vehicles in 2025.
