China’s CATL Considers U.S. Plant If Trump Allows Investment

CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, is open to building a plant in the United States if President-elect Donald Trump allows Chinese investment in the electric vehicle supply chain, company founder and chairman Robin Zeng told Reuters reporters Zhang Yan, Kevin Krolicki, and David Shepardson.

Chinese EV and battery manufacturers, often backed by significant government subsidies, face particularly high trade barriers in the U.S., imposed due to competitive and national security concerns. I Photo: Aeroid Wikimedia Commons

“Originally, when we wanted to invest in the U.S., the government said no,” said Zeng in an interview.

“For me, I’m really open-minded.” Chinese electric vehicle (EV) and battery companies have so far been largely blocked from the U.S. market due to bipartisan support for protectionist trade policies, which Trump first implemented in 2017.

Chinese EV and battery manufacturers, often backed by significant government subsidies, face particularly high trade barriers in the U.S., imposed due to competitive and national security concerns.

Batteries from Chinese companies do not qualify for consumer EV subsidies established under the Biden administration, which also enacted restrictions on vehicles with Chinese-connected car technology.

Currently, Chinese EV imports are subject to a 100% tariff, effectively barring them from the U.S. market.