A U.S. federal judge on Monday granted Alibaba a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon from prohibiting its contractors from using lobbyists who also work for the Chinese tech giant. The ruling gives Alibaba immediate relief for its advocacy efforts in Washington as it continues its broader legal challenge to its inclusion on a Department of Defense blacklist.
The dispute began in June, when the Pentagon added Alibaba to a list of companies it alleges are aiding China’s military. The designation barred the Defense Department from working with companies represented by lobbyists who also work for blacklisted entities, prompting many lobbying firms to sever ties with Alibaba.
The injunction does not remove Alibaba from the blacklist. It allows the company to retain U.S. lobbyists who also represent Pentagon contractors.