I don't think it's really on Ford to remove those barriers as that isn't even a market (compacts, sub-compacts) they were in with ICE cars either. Ford and GM have both given up on trying to compete in the small car market as all the Asian brands have dominated it for decades with European brands right behind them. Both focus their efforts on their money-makers, which are trucks and SUVs.
Those trade barriers against Chinese EVs are there to protect the entire industry in the US, including all the other foreign brands, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that come with it. China's subsidies are completely unsustainable and are only there to give an unfair advantage as no automaker in the world has pockets as deep as the Chinese government. I wouldn't mind seeing them here if they actually sold them at cost.
I'd disagree on that considering these people trend toward obedience in everything like police/laws, Christianity, "traditional values," party politics, etc, etc.
I think it's more a superiority complex where instead of being boring nobodies, they're actually insiders with special knowledge that the rest of the masses don't have. Additionally, right wing propaganda gives them scapegoats to blame for all their life problems (financial, social, personal). Add these two together and you have the modern republican base.