Ford Lincoln Reshoring: A Working Example of Tariffs Driving Production Back to the US

Q: What tariffs does the China-built Lincoln Nautilus pay?

A combined 52.5% duty: 25% Section 301 (Chinese autos, in place since 2018) plus 25% Section 232 (autos, effective April 3, 2025) plus the 2.5% ordinary MFN rate — a figure Ford confirmed to Reuters. Chinese-built EVs face 127.5% (100% Section 301 EV duty + 25% Section 232 + 2.5% MFN). Vehicles remain exempt from the July 24, 2026 Section 301 forced-labor framework because Section 232-covered articles do not stack.

Q: When will Lincoln production return to the US?

Ford announced on August 12, 2026 that it will grow Lincoln production in the United States beginning in 2030 and phase out importing Lincoln vehicles from China for the US market. Ford has not named the US assembly plant, and the phase-out's end date is not committed.

Q: How can I model the Lincoln scenario in the tariff calculator?

Select China as the country of origin and the Automotive product category to see the Section 301 and Section 232 layers on your rate, then compare the landed cost against a reshored or US-sourced alternative.

Published August 21, 2026By ABD Legacy LLC

Ford will move Lincoln production from China to the US starting in 2030, phasing out China-built imports. A citable case study in how US auto tariffs drive reshoring — and how to model it in the tariff calculator.

On August 19, 2026, the White House released "President Trump's Trade Agenda Is Rebuilding the American Auto Industry," citing Ford's announcement as proof that the tariff agenda is reshaping supply chains. The release quotes Ford's plan directly: "Ford Motor Company announced it will reshore production of its Lincoln models to the United States — phasing out imports from China and creating thousands of new American jobs."

What Ford announced

Ford's own announcement came one week earlier, on August 12, 2026, first reported by Reuters in an exclusive interview with CEO Jim Farley. Ford said it will grow Lincoln production in the United States beginning in 2030 and phase out importing Lincoln vehicles from China for the US market. The move, Ford said, creates "thousands of direct and indirect U.S. jobs." Farley told Reuters: "We made this decision as soon as the policy of the administration was set."

The affected model is the Lincoln Nautilus — the only China-built Lincoln sold in the US, assembled at the Changan Ford joint-venture plant in Hangzhou since model year 2024. Ford has not named the US plant (TBD), and the phase-out's end date is not committed.

The tariff math importers can model

The announced shift is a concrete example of the mechanics the tariff calculator models. A China-built Lincoln Nautilus currently enters the US at a combined duty of 52.5%: 25% Section 301 (Chinese autos, in place since 2018), plus 25% Section 232 (autos, effective April 3, 2025), plus the 2.5% ordinary rate — a figure Ford confirmed to Reuters. For comparison, Chinese-built EVs face 127.5% (100% Section 301 EV duty + 25% Section 232 + 2.5% MFN) — see the China tariff rates 2026 explainer for the full rate table. Vehicles remain exempt from the July 24, 2026 Section 301 forced-labor framework (Section 232-covered articles do not stack). For the step-by-step math behind these stacked rates, see how to calculate import duties from China.

Ford's tariff exposure is not hypothetical: roughly $3 billion in gross tariff-related costs in FY2025, about $2 billion net after offsets. The timeline also lines up with a hard deadline — the Connected Vehicle Rule bans China-linked connectivity hardware imports from model year 2030 (software from model year 2027).

What this means for your import scenario

Whether you import finished vehicles, auto parts, or any China-origin goods, the Lincoln case shows how stacked US tariffs change the economics of where to build. The exact US assembly plant and investment amount are TBD (assumption: existing Lincoln plants such as Kentucky Truck Plant and Chicago Assembly remain in the mix). For the broader supply-chain picture, see how tariffs affect US manufacturing supply chains.

Run your own scenario in the tariff calculator 2026 — select China as the country of origin and the Automotive product category to see the Section 301 and Section 232 layers on your rate, then compare the landed cost against a reshored or US-sourced alternative. The Lincoln example is one real-world data point; your shipment's numbers will tell you whether reshoring math works for you.

FAQ

Q: What tariffs does the China-built Lincoln Nautilus pay?

A: A combined 52.5% duty: 25% Section 301 (Chinese autos, in place since 2018) plus 25% Section 232 (autos, effective April 3, 2025) plus the 2.5% ordinary MFN rate — a figure Ford confirmed to Reuters. Chinese-built EVs face 127.5% (100% Section 301 EV duty + 25% Section 232 + 2.5% MFN). Vehicles remain exempt from the July 24, 2026 Section 301 forced-labor framework because Section 232-covered articles do not stack.

Q: When will Lincoln production return to the US?

A: Ford announced on August 12, 2026 that it will grow Lincoln production in the United States beginning in 2030 and phase out importing Lincoln vehicles from China for the US market. Ford has not named the US assembly plant, and the phase-out's end date is not committed.

Q: How can I model the Lincoln scenario in the tariff calculator?

A: Select China as the country of origin and the Automotive product category to see the Section 301 and Section 232 layers on your rate, then compare the landed cost against a reshored or US-sourced alternative.

Sources

All sources verified live at publication (2026-08-19).

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Tariff rates, origin rules, and enforcement actions change quickly; consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney for guidance on your specific shipments.