The U.S. International Trade Commission banned lithium batteries produced by SK Innovation Co. from the U.S. for 10 years, potentially hampering the Biden administration’s ambitious EV goals. SKI’s rival, LG Chem, claimed in 2019 that SKI stole trade secrets related to EV battery technology, saying SKI hired dozens of LG’s Chem’s employees and destroyed evidence of trade secret theft. Although the trade commission ordered a cease and desist on SKI products, it added in a four-year grace period for Ford, and a two-year period for Volkswagen to find alternative suppliers. That grace period makes it more difficult legally for the Biden administration to reverse the ruling, which it has 60 days to do. The ruling also casts doubt on the future of SKI’s plans for two battery factories in Georgia.  (Wall Street Journal $, Reuters, HuffPost)