Key facts
- Alibaba won a preliminary injunction against US government restrictions on Pentagon contracts.
- The ruling prevents the US from denying contracts due to companies' lobbying for Alibaba.
- Alibaba is challenging its designation as a Chinese military company.
- The injunction allows Alibaba to retain US lobbyists.
A US federal judge on Monday granted Alibaba Group Holding's request for a preliminary injunction, preventing the US government from denying Pentagon contracts to companies that use lobbyists also representing the e-commerce giant. Alibaba had sued the government in June after the Pentagon added it to a list of firms allegedly aiding China's military. The designation restricts Pentagon contracts and, from 2027, purchases of listed companies' products or services through third parties. Alibaba denies military ties, stating its services are for retail, logistics, and enterprise technology. The injunction does not remove Alibaba from the list, which the company continues to challenge.