Republicans urge Biden to blacklist Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturers

Republicans in Congress are urging the Biden administration to take action against two major Chinese EV battery makers, Gotion High Tech and CATL, for their alleged use of forced labor in their supply chains. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. John Moolenaar, along with other colleagues, sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security calling for the companies to be added to the import ban list.

The lawmakers claim to have evidence linking the companies to forced labor practices in the Xinjiang region, where the Uyghur genocide is ongoing. They argue that Gotion High Tech and CATL should be blocked from importing goods into the U.S. under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

Gotion High Tech, partially owned by Volkswagen, is planning to build an EV battery plant in Michigan, while CATL is set to provide technology for Ford’s EV battery plant in the same state. Ford has defended its relationship with CATL, stating that all suppliers must comply with their human rights standards.

The Department of Homeland Security has responded to the congressional correspondence, stating that they will continue to address the issue appropriately. If the companies are placed on the import ban list, their goods will be detained at the border until they can prove they were not made with forced labor.

The calls to action against Gotion High Tech and CATL highlight the growing concerns over forced labor practices in China and the need for stricter enforcement of human rights standards in supply chains.