Ford halts Mustang, Bronco exports to China amid intensifying trade tensions
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Ford Motor Company has suspended exports of several iconic American models to China, including the Mustang, Bronco, F-150 Raptor, and Lincoln Navigator, as fallout from the deepening US-China trade conflict continues to disrupt global automotive flows.
The decision, revealed on Friday, follows Washington and Beijing’s escalating tariff war, which has led Ford to revise its export strategy. “We have adjusted exports from the US to China in light of the current tariffs,” the automaker said in a statement, without confirming specific vehicle models.
However, according to a Wall Street Journal report, the halt affects several high-profile models, including the Michigan-built Mustang, Bronco, and F-150 Raptor, as well as the Kentucky-assembled Lincoln Navigator.
Ford has exported approximately 240,000 vehicles to China over the past decade, but shipments have nosedived this year to just 5,500, marking a sharp decline in demand and affordability under soaring import duties.
Tariffs have played a central role in this downturn.
While many of the broader trade levies introduced during former President Donald Trump's administration have been rolled back, steep duties on automobiles remain in place. Currently, Chinese tariffs on American-made cars sit at 125%, while the US imposes a 145% tariff on certain Chinese auto imports.
Despite these trade headwinds, Ford’s presence in China remains significant. In 2024, the automaker sold around 442,000 vehicles in the country, which included cars manufactured both domestically and internationally. This figure represents 1.6% of China’s vast automotive market.
Ford continues to operate multiple joint ventures with Chinese firms, producing both Ford and Lincoln vehicles within China’s borders. Some of these locally made models, such as the Lincoln Nautilus, are exported to other countries — though even these exports are now facing hefty US tariffs.
Still, Ford’s operations in China remain profitable. Vice Chairman John Lawler recently reported that the company’s Chinese ventures yielded approximately $900 million in operating profits for 2024.
