The federal investigation related to Fuyao is focused on a network of companies referred to in court filings as E-Z Iron Works Money Laundering Organization that Fuyao allegedly paid $126 million. Fuyao has not been named as a focus of the investigation.
Chris Kershner, president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, told the Dayton Daily News he believes the legislation targeting Fuyao is being backed by its competition.
“This amendment was sought by a Mexican competitor to Fuyao that is struggling, so the congressman representing their Kentucky plant agreed to do it,” Kershner said.
“This is about a competitor trying to use the law against their competition. The fact is that we’ve got a Dayton-area company with 30% of the global auto glass market and employing 3,500 people in our community. We should be proud of that.”
The plan approved by lawmakers gives the U.S. Department of Justice 120 days to outline “investigative and prosecutorial steps taken against such entities implicated in forced labor supply chains, and a detailed breakdown of all related costs to carry out these efforts.”
That provision was included in a broader plan which funds Commerce, Justice, and Science programs in the federal budget for 2026. Final Senate approval came on a vote of 82-to-15, with both of Ohio’s senators voting in favor of the funding package.
The bill still needs the signature of President Donald Trump to become law.
The Dayton Daily News previously reported that the measure was added in the House Appropriations Committee by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Kentucky.
“The committee is concerned about labor trafficking, forced labor, and unlawful employment practices involving smuggled or undocumented labor in the stream of commerce of the U.S. auto parts and glass manufacturing industries, particularly relating to corporate entities affiliated with the (Chinese Communist Party), and their affiliated companies,” says the amendment.
Kentucky is home to Mexico-based Vitro Automotive Glass, which also has plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Rogers’ office did not respond to an interview request.
Vitro has not commented on Kershner’s claims.
Fuyao denied any wrongdoing when asked previously about the proposed measure by the Dayton Daily News.
In a new statement Friday, Fuyao said in part that it has “remained in good standing since its establishment in 2014. The company has been a significant taxpayer and has made substantial investments in the state, employing more than 3,000 people in Ohio. As a major supplier of automotive glass to U.S. manufacturers and recipient of investment incentives, FGA has undergone rigorous independent audits that have consistently confirmed its compliance with legal obligations.”
Added Fuyao: “As a publicly listed multinational corporation, Fuyao Group is subject to rigorous public disclosure requirements, independent auditing, and regulatory oversight consistent with international standards for publicly traded companies around the world.”
