Ford is in talks to bring a major Chinese carmaker's technology to the United States, and President Donald Trump could be open to the plan.

The discussions involve China's second-largest car manufacturer, Geely, and have been ongoing for more than a year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Chinese electric cars have become increasingly popular around the world thanks to their high tech and relatively low cost.

But US carmakers have said they are struggling to compete, noting how China's state subsidies back their foreign rivals.

Earlier this year, Trump appeared to indicate that he might be open to Chinese cars in the US as long as they were built in the country and by American workers.

'If they want to come in and build the plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that's great,' Trump told the Detroit Economic Club on January 13. 'I love that.'

He added: 'Let China come in, let Japan come in. They are and they'll be building plants, but they're using our labor.'

Trump, who was speaking about his tariffs, also said he was 'standing up for the American auto worker like no president has ever stood up before.'

In wake of the report, Ford told the Wall Street Journal that their 'commitment to a level playing field and safeguarding our home market remains absolute.'

A spokesperson for Geely said that the Chinese carmaker kept 'an open mind when it comes to exploring cooperative opportunities.'

'Engaging in constructive industry dialogue is part of how we operate, but we do not comment on rumors or speculations regarding potential partnerships,' Geely told the outlet.

Ford CEO Jim Farley sounded the alarms on the potential 'economic impact' of allowing Chinese carmakers into the US earlier this month.

'They have enough capacity in China to cover all of the manufacturing and all of the vehicle sales in the US,' Farley told Fox and Friends on April 13.

'Manufacturing is the heart and soul of our country, and for us to lose that to those exports would be devastating for our country,' he added.