US Judge Blocks Pentagon Ban on Alibaba Lobbyists

A federal judge in San Jose, California, granted a preliminary injunction on October 26 in favor of Alibaba Group Holding, ordering the US government to cease enforcing a restriction on Pentagon contracts. The ban targeted companies that engaged in lobbying activities for the e-commerce giant, effectively forcing lobbying firms to choose between representing Alibaba or working with US defense contractors.

The restriction followed the Pentagon's decision to add Alibaba to its 1260H list, which identifies companies allegedly aiding the Chinese military. While the court ruling allows Alibaba to retain lobbyists who also represent Pentagon contractors, it does not remove the company from the blacklist.

Alibaba continues to challenge its designation as a Chinese military company in court, maintaining that its services are limited to retail, logistics, and enterprise technology. The company has asserted that the government's determinations have no basis in fact or law.