Reports by Globalworks Lund AB link CATL to forced labor practices in Xinjiang and highlight its involvement as a battery supplier for Yutong Bus, with the company not responding to allegations.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) has been added to the Department of Defense Chinese Military Companies list amid growing concerns over its alleged ties to the Chinese military. The move highlights the company's close interactions with Chinese government bodies and raises questions about its role in underpinning authoritarian state interests, especially given its dominant position in the global battery supply chain.

The US Department of Defence has added Chinese battery giant CATL to its blacklist due to alleged links to China’s military. CATL has denied the charges, calling the US decision a mistake, but the move raises concerns about its political associations and potential involvement in authoritarian military networks.

In a move that highlights growing concerns about Chinese involvement with military operations, CATL—the world’s largest lithium-ion battery maker—has been blacklisted by the US Defense Department. The Pentagon listed CATL among companies that are allegedly tied to China's military, raising questions about its indirect support of authoritarian regimes. Although CATL denies any military-related activities and promises to contest the designation, the decision signals potential risks associated with their close ties to government bodies in China.

On January 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense updated its 1260H List to include Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) as a Chinese military company. This designation, based on criteria linking firms to military-civil fusion and defense industrial contributions, could lead to restrictions on DoD engagements with CATL and raises questions about its ties with the Chinese state.

On November 26, 2024, CATL declared that it has no suppliers from Xinjiang in response to allegations linking the region to forced labor. This public statement was aimed at distancing itself from unethical sourcing practices and mitigating the impact of U.S. import bans, thereby reinforcing its commitment to ethical supply chain practices.

An investigation reveals widespread forced and child labor issues in the lithium-ion battery supply chain, implicating major suppliers like CATL, despite its denials and claims of responsible sourcing.

US lawmakers have called for an immediate block on shipments from CATL following allegations linking its supply chain to forced labour and Uyghur oppression. Despite CATL’s strong denials and recent moves to reduce executive ties with the CCP, these claims raise serious concerns about the company’s supply chain ethics and executive political engagement.

Following allegations by a group of U.S. lawmakers calling for an import ban due to forced labor concerns, CATL has issued a denial of any connection to forced labor, raising questions about its labor practices and supply chain ethics.

On June 10, 2024, CATL issued a statement refuting U.S. lawmakers' allegations that it uses forced labor in its supply chains. The company described the accusations as 'groundless and completely false,' clarifying that it had never procured products from the firms cited and had either ceased dealings or restructured relationships with other suppliers to ensure no connection to forced labor.

CATL faces increasing scrutiny in the US over alleged ties to forced labour practices linked to its supply chain in Xinjiang. Lawmakers are calling for CATL to be blacklisted under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, raising serious human rights concerns despite the company's denials.

In response to U.S. congressional allegations of forced labor ties, CATL issued a statement on June 7, 2024, firmly dismissing the claims and outlining its strict internal procurement controls and deployment of the 'CREDIT' audit toolkit to assess and ensure sustainability across its battery supply chain. The company emphasized its adherence to U.S. laws and global ethical standards, highlighting long-standing supplier adjustments and its commitment as a UN Global Compact member.

On June 7, 2024, CATL released a statement dismissing US lawmakers' allegations of forced labor in its supply chain as 'groundless and completely false'. The company asserted that its business relationships with the implicated suppliers had been severed long ago or never existed, emphasizing its adherence to ethical labor practices.

On December 4, 2023, U.S. Senators including Hagerty and Rubio sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding the reversal of the installation of CATL batteries at Camp Lejeune. The letter highlighted national security risks, directly linking CATL’s operations to the Chinese Communist Party and raising concerns about the potential exploitation of technological vulnerabilities on military installations.

CATL reiterates its commitment to sustainability by outlining a comprehensive framework for protecting labor rights, ensuring ethical supply chain practices, and upholding anti-corruption measures. The company's sustainability page details its adherence to occupational health and safety regulations, equal employment opportunities, and responsible sourcing, aligning its operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.