Representative Ro Khanna, the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, has sent a letter to the Chinese-owned Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. demanding information on the company's operations and finances amid allegations of labor violations.
The letter asks for extensive documentation of Fuyao's business operations in the U.S., its labor practices, its ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and more. Khanna cited allegations that Fuyao has been violating U.S. labor laws by importing foreign workers to undercut American labor.
Fuyao was the subject of a 2024 federal raid that resulted in a civil asset forfeiture of $126 million, including the seizure of luxury goods, vehicles, and 12 commercial and residential properties. The U.S. Department of Justice described some of the properties as "boarding houses" to accommodate migrant workers.
Khanna is seeking data on whether Fuyao was subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party, allowing it to undercut U.S. competitors. He also wants to understand the degree to which the CCP is involved in the company's operation.
Khanna has a good relationship with committee Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and said other colleagues across the aisle have supported his efforts. If Fuyao does not comply with his request for information, Khanna is willing to subpoena the information from them.
Fuyao is one of the largest automotive glass manufacturers and suppliers in the world, supplying glass to global and U.S. automakers such as BMW, Volkswagen, General Motors, and Ford. Khanna said that if Fuyao did not comply with his request, he would make it a priority to investigate the company and its practices.
Khanna conceded that former President Donald Trump was one of the first to raise the issue of China's unbalanced relationship with the U.S., but criticized the president's overall policy on China, giving it a "C" when asked to grade it.
The alleged union-busting is a major focus of Khanna's inquiry. He asked Fuyao what its reasoning is for its opposition to unionization efforts at facilities in the U.S. and whether the company has retaliated against any whistleblower.
Khanna is also requesting an onsite visit to the company's flagship Ohio plant before November 1 to see for himself who the workers are and whether they are being exploited.
The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into Fuyao, and Khanna is seeking information about the company's practices and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Khanna emphasized the need for a secure border and criticized the alleged exploitation of workers by Fuyao. He said that he would stand up for American workers and for U.S. laws, and that he would investigate Fuyao if necessary.
Fuyao has been the subject of several investigations and allegations of labor violations in the past, including a 2019 Netflix documentary that captured the company's takeover of a former General Motors plant in Moraine, Ohio.
