Republican Lawmakers Urge Pentagon to Bar Chinese Battery Maker CATL

Two Republican lawmakers have requested the U.S. Defense Department to add Chinese battery manufacturer CATL to a restricted list, citing its ties to Beijing's military. The move could prevent CATL from securing U.S. military contracts and would signal risks to U.S. companies considering partnerships with CATL.

Two top Republican lawmakers on Wednesday urged the U.S. Defense Department to place Chinese battery maker CATL on a restricted list of companies allegedly collaborating with Beijing's military. The inclusion would bar the company from obtaining U.S. military contracts and carry significant reputational risks, according to experts.

Senator Marco Rubio, vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, and Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requesting immediate action. They stated that listing CATL -- China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co -- would send a strong message to U.S. firms contemplating partnerships with CATL. CATL and the Pentagon have yet to comment.

The lawmakers pointed to CATL's deep ties with the Chinese Communist Party and its military, claiming that reliance on CATL batteries jeopardizes U.S. national security by increasing dependency on the CCP for energy infrastructure. They cited Duke Energy's decision to phase out CATL products at a major Marine Corps base and other civilian projects as an example of growing concerns over Chinese influence.

(With inputs from agencies.)