Alibaba wins preliminary injunction against Pentagon lobbying-linked contract restriction

Alibaba Group Holding won a preliminary injunction on Oct. 26 that bars the US government from denying Pentagon contracts to companies because they, their parents or subsidiaries do business with firms lobbying for Alibaba, Reuters reports. The order addresses that contracting restriction, not Alibaba’s separate challenge to its placement on a Pentagon list of companies allegedly aiding China’s military. The injunction does not remove Alibaba from the list, Reuters reported.

Alibaba sued in June after the Pentagon added it to the list. According to Reuters, the designation does not impose formal sanctions, but it restricts Pentagon contracts with listed companies. A restriction on purchases of their products or services through third parties begins in 2027.