Democratic Congressman Demands Investigation Into Chinese Glass Manufacturer’s U.S. Labor Practices

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has directed a formal inquiry to Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., a leading global automotive glass supplier with U.S. operations centered in Ohio, seeking disclosure of company records related to labor practices and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The request marks an escalation in scrutiny of the manufacturer, which holds an estimated 35-40% share of the worldwide automotive glass market and supplies major automakers including BMW, Volkswagen, General Motors, and Ford.

As the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, Khanna outlined multiple concerns, including allegations that Fuyao has suppressed wages through subsidies from Beijing, imported undocumented workers to reduce labor costs, and violated American immigration and labor statutes. The congressman characterized the company’s practices as deliberately designed to undercut domestic glass manufacturers struggling to compete on pricing.

A 2024 federal raid on Fuyao’s Ohio properties resulted in civil asset forfeiture totaling $126 million, including seizure of luxury goods, vehicles, and 12 commercial and residential properties that the Department of Justice described as boarding houses for migrant workers. The DOJ reported that many workers were allegedly smuggled into the country through Mexico and housed in company-controlled facilities before being transported to manufacturing plants in the Dayton area.

Khanna’s formal inquiry requests extensive documentation regarding Fuyao’s subsidy status from Beijing, the degree of Communist Party involvement in company governance, potential wage theft, anti-union activities, and worker exploitation. He has demanded an on-site inspection of the company’s flagship Ohio facility before November 1 and warned he would pursue subpoena power if cooperation is not forthcoming.

The congressman said he would advance the investigation in a bipartisan manner, citing support from House Select Committee Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and other Republican colleagues who share concerns about unfair competition from Chinese enterprises. Khanna noted that American glass manufacturers, including those he met during a recent Heartland tour in Western Pennsylvania, face significant economic hardship due to Fuyao’s pricing practices.

Fuyao became a focal point of labor relations scrutiny following its 2017 acquisition of a former General Motors manufacturing plant in Moraine, Ohio, which was subsequently featured in the 2019 Netflix documentary “American Factory.” The film documented the company’s million-dollar campaign opposing unionization efforts at the facility, illustrating broader concerns about worker representation and management tactics.

The DOJ confirmed in a 2025 statement that a criminal investigation into Fuyao remains ongoing. Company policy requires all Chinese firms to maintain a Communist Party representative within their organizational structure, with Fuyao vice president He Shimeng serving as a CCP secretary.

When questioned about border security’s role in facilitating Fuyao’s alleged worker smuggling operations, Khanna acknowledged that insufficient vetting procedures in 2024 created vulnerabilities, though he emphasized disagreement with recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids while affirming the necessity of secure borders. He described the situation as unacceptable, stating Americans should be outraged by a Chinese-funded enterprise undercutting jobs and potentially exploiting workers through violations of immigration and labor law.