Ford CEO Jim Farley said European countries are already too late to contain the impact of Chinese automakers, while the U.S. still has time to determine how and whether they should enter its market. He pointed to rapidly rising Chinese vehicle exports and pressure on Europe’s auto industry as a warning for U.S. policymakers. Ford plans to partner with Chinese companies where doing so is capital-efficient or fills an area of limited expertise, while competing with them directly. The automaker works with battery maker CATL on lower-cost batteries at a Michigan plant and announced a July agreement with Geely to jointly develop electric cars for Europe. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has criticized Ford’s Chinese partnerships, saying they risk intertwining the company’s future with Chinese state-backed enterprises. Chinese vehicles remain largely excluded from the U.S. by software restrictions and tariffs exceeding 100%, though industry executives and lobbyists question whether those barriers will endure.