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Ford Motor is calling for changes to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that would favor automakers with higher levels of North American productions as the three countries begin the treaty’s formal review process. CEO Jim Farley said the company wants revised rules that create more balanced competition with manufacturers that rely more heavily on imported vehicles, while reaffirming that North America should continue operating as an integrated manufacturing platform.
Farley’s comments come after the US administration announced it would not immediately extend the USMCA for another 16-year term, opting instead for annual reviews that could continue through 2036. The decision has increased uncertainty for manufacturers operating integrated supply chains across Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Speaking to CNBC, Farley said Ford’s objective is to ensure the updated trade framework recognizes companies with larger domestic manufacturing footprints. “It is essential that any new agreement makes it easier, not harder, to compete with manufacturers in the United States that import vehicles from Japan, South Korea, and other global competitors,” Farley said. “That is the key for us.”
Farley specifically argued that automakers producing a larger share of their vehicles in the United States should receive greater benefits under the agreement, while companies relying more heavily on imports should face tougher penalties.
Industry data show that General Motors and Toyota, the two largest automakers by US sales volume, also rank among the country’s largest vehicle importers. General Motors imported approximately 1.17 million vehicles in 2025, representing 41% of its US sales. Toyota imported more than 1.19 million vehicles, equivalent to 47% of its US sales volume.
Hyundai Motor also remains among the largest importers from South Korea, although the company has announced plans to increase the share of US-built vehicles to approximately 80% of its US sales by 2030.
Ford, by comparison, said it assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the United States last year, the highest volume among automakers operating in the country. The company exported approximately 311,000 vehicles to more than 60 international markets while importing 378,000 vehicles, representing 17% of its 2.2 million US vehicle sales.
“Ford is the leader in American automotive manufacturing, with the highest number of vehicles built in the United States,” Farley said. “More importantly, we import very few vehicles, we export the most, and we have the largest number of UAW-represented employees.”
In January, speaking on the sidelines of the Detroit Auto Show, Farley emphasized that Ford continues to view North America as a unified production base despite uncertainty surrounding the trade agreement. “We really see Canada, Mexico, and the United States as an integrated manufacturing system. That is how we are going to approach this negotiation,” Farley said. “It is very critical for us, but we need revisions.”
His remarks contrasted with comments made by President Donald Trump, who questioned the importance of maintaining the agreement. “We could have it or not. It wouldn’t matter to me,” Trump said while speaking at a Ford manufacturing facility.
Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford also pointed to the policy uncertainty facing manufacturers, citing fluctuating tariffs, changing emissions regulations, and questions surrounding the future of the USMCA.
The automotive industry remains one of the most important sectors covered by the agreement. According to industry data, automotive products represented approximately 18% of total US trade with Mexico and Canada last year, making the sector central to the ongoing negotiations.
Mexico continues to play an important role in Ford’s North American manufacturing network despite production declines during the first months of 2026. According to Mexico’s national statistics agency (INEGI), Ford produced 171,121 light vehicles in Mexico between January and May 2026, a 6.6% decrease from the 183,284 units manufactured during the same period in 2025.
Vehicle exports from Ford’s Mexican operations also declined. The automaker exported 161,098 vehicles during the first five months of the year, down 9.4% compared with 177,742 units exported during the corresponding period of 2025.
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