Ford CEO Jim Farley welcomed hundreds of leaders on Tuesday from across America’s manufacturing, construction, and logistics sectors to the Ford Pro Accelerate summit at Detroit’s Michigan Central Station, setting the stage for an urgent conversation on U.S. competitiveness in what he calls the “essential economy.” At a moment when workforce shortages and declining productivity threaten the nation’s industrial backbone, Farley called for bold action and new partnerships to restore American leadership and innovation.

Farley’s message was both a rallying cry and a stark warning: he fears that China—through relentless investment and cohesive strategy—is rapidly accelerating ahead of the United States in manufacturing and critical technologies. When asked how America’s essential economy c

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