Lawmakers Urge DoD to Blacklist CATL

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and John Moolenaar are urging the Department of Defense to blacklist Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), a prominent Chinese battery manufacturer with connections to the Chinese Communist Party and military. They argue that reliance on CATL poses a threat to U.S. national security, as it could make the country dependent on China for critical energy infrastructure. The lawmakers' request follows a broader initiative by the Pentagon to restrict companies linked to the Chinese military from receiving U.S. military contracts. They cited CATL's significant market share in the electric vehicle sector and recent actions by Duke Energy to phase out CATL products at military facilities as evidence of growing concerns. The call for action emphasizes the need to protect U.S. military assets and to caution American businesses against partnerships with CATL.