Carter urges LG Chem, SK Innovation to resolve electric vehicle battery trade dispute

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), whose home state of Georgia has a large vehicle manufacturing presence, recently urged LG Chem and SK Innovation Co. Ltd., both headquartered in Korea, to solve their electric vehicle (EV) battery trade dispute in the United States. 

“It will not only be in your mutual best interest, it will be in the best interest of a stronger U.S. economy and cutting edge EV battery manufacturing that will be the envy of the world,” wrote Rep. Carter and U.S. Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) in a Dec. 8 letter sent to the chief executive officers of both companies.

According to the lawmakers’ letter, LG Chem and SK Innovation have contributed significantly to U.S. economic growth, high-wage job creation, and green technology development, and positively impacted local communities. 

“It is in this important context that we write to you today regarding the EV battery trade secret dispute before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC),” wrote Rep. Carter and his colleagues. “It has come to our attention that the ITC determined on Oct. 26, 2020 to extend the target date for completion of its investigation into your dispute to Dec. 10, 2020.”

Rep. Carter and the lawmakers pointed out that “a potential adverse ruling to either of the two companies by the ITC will have a known negative impact on the U.S. economy and an adverse effect on the public interest.”

For instance, in Rep. Carter’s home state of Georgia, SK Innovation has invested $2.58 billion in battery facilities that will employ more than 2,500 Georgians. A disruption in the EV battery supply would harm the U.S. workers on those assembly and production lines and further delay the introduction of a new model line, the members wrote.