Detroit City Wire

Dusty Johnson, a U.S. representative, expressed concerns about China's efforts to control U.S. supply chains and share critical data with the Chinese Communist Party, describing these actions as a direct security risk. He supports congressional efforts to restrict companies like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) from the U.S. market. This statement was made in an op-ed.

"The Chinese Communist Party is not our friend," said Johnson. "China's actions are not an accident, but a deliberate attempt to grow their influence and dominance. By law, if the CCP requests a company to hand over its collected data on U.S. infrastructure, the company is required to comply. Congress and President Trump must work together to enforce tough-on-China policies and ramp up domestic production to increase resiliency in our supply chains and keep Americans safe and secure."

According to CNEVPOST, CATL maintained its position as the world's leading electric vehicle (EV) battery maker in early 2025, capturing 38.1% of the global market share from January to April and installing 117.6 GWh of batteries during that period. The company's rapid growth underscores its expanding influence on worldwide EV supply chains, with significant investments outside China. This dominance has led global automakers to increasingly rely on CATL for advanced battery technology and production capacity.

Business Insider reported that in January 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense designated CATL as a "Chinese military company," citing potential security concerns over its possible connections to the Chinese military. Although this status does not yet directly affect CATL's U.S. commercial operations, it could restrict the company's eligibility for future American defense contracts and funding. CATL has publicly said its intention to legally challenge the U.S. government's decision to protect its global business interests.

According to Wired, reliance on Chinese-made utility battery systems, including those supplied by CATL, creates strategic vulnerabilities for American energy infrastructure from late 2024 onwards. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security noted that Chinese state support for battery companies has enabled rapid global market expansion, raising concerns about critical supply chain security. In response, U.S. lawmakers are accelerating incentives for domestic battery manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

Johnson is South Dakota’s sole U.S. House Representative and is known for his leadership style and active involvement on various committees such as Agriculture, Transportation & Infrastructure, and Select Committee on China, where he addresses food and national security concerns related to China. Before Congress, he served as vice president for a major engineering firm and as chief of staff to the South Dakota governor.