CATL Fights Pentagon Ban Amid US-China Trade War

Key Details CATL, the world's largest EV battery manufacturer, is actively challenging its Pentagon blacklist designation, which labels it as connected to China's military. Co-chairman Pan Jian has made multiple trips to Washington, including a March 2025 meeting with Defense Department officials where he presented video evidence and documentation arguing the company's batteries aren't used by Chinese forces. Why It Matters Being on the Pentagon's list severely restricts CATL's ability to do business in the U.S., a critical market for battery suppliers. Despite Pan's efforts and a cordial reception from officials, the company remains listed as of September 2025. CATL says it's exploring "legally available options" to address what it calls a "false designation." The Bigger Picture Washington's concerns about Chinese supply chains run deep among lawmakers and national security officials, making removal unlikely despite the U.S. lagging behind China in CATL's advanced battery technology. The issue is expected to surface during President Trump's upcoming Beijing summit with Xi Jinping. CATL has long maintained it poses no security risk and has joked that batteries are "dumb as bricks" unsuitable for espionage.