Alibaba Wins Temporary Reprieve from Pentagon Lobbying Ban

A US judge in the Northern District of California has temporarily blocked the Department of Defence from enforcing a lobbying prohibition against Alibaba, granting the Chinese tech giant a reprieve in a high-stakes legal battle. The order, issued on Sunday, prevents the Pentagon from barring Alibaba from lobbying activities while the court considers the company's constitutional challenge to the statute. The case stems from Alibaba's inclusion on a Pentagon blacklist under the National Defence Authorisation Act, which restricts contracts with firms employing lobbyists who also represent blacklisted companies. Alibaba's lawsuit challenges the legitimacy of the blacklist itself, making this a closely watched dispute amid US-China technological rivalry. An Alibaba spokesperson expressed satisfaction that the company will not be treated as a Chinese military company for lobbying purposes and will retain proper channels to communicate its views. The ruling provides temporary relief but is not a final decision on Alibaba's blacklist status.