Great Lakes Wire

Gabriel Noronha, president of Polaris National Security, said that Chinese electric vehicle battery companies Gotion and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) sought U.S. subsidies despite their ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the use of Uyghur forced labor. He made this statement on X.

"Two major Chinese EV battery companies, Gotion and CATL, tried to infiltrate the U.S. supply chain," said Noronha. "To qualifiy for taxpayer subsidies by building plants in Michigan. As @CommitteeforCCP thoroughly documented. Both companies are tied to the CCP and use Uyghur slave labor."

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), China’s largest electric vehicle battery firm, has been a subject of national security discussions regarding Chinese industrial expansion in the United States. This includes Gotion High-Tech’s $2.4 billion battery component plant in Green Charter Township, Michigan. According to The Guardian, the project has sparked backlash among residents and officials who are concerned about potential influence from the Chinese Communist Party, especially given CATL’s extensive global partnerships and technology licensing activities. Although the Gotion facility is the primary development under scrutiny, lawmakers have expressed broader concerns about CATL-affiliated ventures receiving U.S. subsidies.

According to Reuters, U.S. lawmakers have urged that Chinese battery companies CATL and Gotion High-Tech be added to the import ban list under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act due to allegations that their supply chains involve forced labor. Both companies have denied these allegations, stating that their operations comply with all applicable laws and regulations. The Department of Homeland Security has been asked to investigate these claims further.

As reported by Xinhua News Agency, CATL and Gotion High-Tech have publicly denied any connections to forced labor in their supply chains. CATL said that the accusations are "groundless and completely false," emphasizing that their business relationships with certain suppliers had ended long ago. Gotion High-Tech similarly refuted the claims, asserting that any allegations suggesting involvement in forced labor are "completely unfounded and absolutely false."

Noronha is the President of Polaris National Security, where he leads efforts to educate the public and policymakers on foreign policy and national defense issues. He previously served at the U.S. Department of State as Special Advisor for Iran and at the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee under Chairmen John McCain and Jim Inhofe. Noronha is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has worked extensively on legislation and strategic communication related to U.S. national security.