[미디어SR 박민석 기자] Attention is drawn to whether the eco-friendly policy of the US Biden Table will serve as a major variable in the electric vehicle battery litigation by SK Innovation and LG Energy Solutions.
On the 3rd (local time) of the US Department of Transportation, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) announced its position to review the ruling of the’Skip Innovation Import Ban’.
On that day, the nominee of the Ministry of Transportation’s Deputy Minister Polly Trotenberg attended the approval hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and said, “We will analyze the impact of the decision on the Biden government’s green transportation goals.”
The’review plan’ that came out at the hearing on that day was only at the level of principle, but since it was officially released by the Congress, it is highly likely to lead to the official position of the Ministry of Transportation in the future.
Earlier, the two companies held a court battle with LG Energy Solutions accusing SK Innovation of stealing trade secrets related to its EV (electric vehicle) battery technology.
Accordingly, on the 10th, as the US ITC gave the hands of LG Energy Solutions, SK Innovation was banned from producing and selling batteries in the US for the next 10 years.
Currently, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is deliberating the report submitted by both companies on the ITC decision, and President Biden can decide whether to exercise the veto within 60 days of the decision.
In this situation, the direction of President Biden, who is pursuing an eco-friendly policy, is paying attention.
After its inauguration, the Biden administration declared the US carbon neutral (0 net GHG emissions) goal in 2050, and is actively pursuing a policy to convert power generation sources and electric vehicles to this end.
Regarding electric vehicles, it plans to install 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S. by 2030 and convert all 3 million commercial vehicles to electric vehicles.
Earlier in December last year, after nomination by the cabinet, Minister of Transportation Pete Bootyjiji said on Twitter that “to cope with the climate crisis, millions of new electric vehicles must be put on the roads of the United States.” There was also a notice.
Along with the Biden administration’s eco-friendly policy, SK Innovation’s electric vehicle battery plant, which is being built in Georgia, is also expected to affect the exercise of the veto.
SK Innovation is building plants 1 and 2 that can produce 430,000 units (21.5GWh) of electric vehicle batteries per year by investing about 2.6 billion dollars (about 3 trillion won) in Georgia.
2,600 workers were employed during the construction of the factory. By 2025, it plans to invest 5 billion dollars (about 6 trillion won) cumulatively in the plant and hire 6,000 workers.
However, according to the ITC’s ruling, SK Innovation’s battery plant and other U.S. businesses are virtually impossible. This could seriously damage the local economy in Georgia.
An official from Korea Institute of Industry said to Media SR that “Biden’s eco-friendly policy will not act as a big variable in exercising the veto on the outcome of battery litigation.” “The strict US will not even go to the president to veto the infringement,” he predicted.