SEOUL — A U.S. trade panel preliminarily ruled in favor of South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Chem which had accused crosstown rival SK Innovation of misappropriating trade secrets, the companies said on Sunday. LG Chem and SK Innovation have hit each other with U.S. lawsuits for thefts of trade secrets and patent infringements in a bitter row that threatens to disrupt the launches of EVs by some of the world's biggest car makers. The so-called default judgment by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) could potentially mean SK Innovation, as sought by LG Chem, cannot import some battery products, components and materials it may need to supply its U.S. factories for Volkswagen and Ford Motors. The ITC is set to make a final ruling in the case on Oct. 5, LG Chem said in a statement. In a statement, SK Innovation expressed "regret" at the ruling which it said "had not fully acknowledged arguments from SK Innovation".

Source: International New York Times February 16, 2020 03:56 UTC