Sturgis Sobin of Covington & Burling, left, and Bert Reiser of Latham & Watkins. Photos: Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

The International Trade Commission has blocked a Korean battery maker from importing electric vehicle battery products due to trade secret theft—but with a couple of carve-outs to cushion the blow for American auto makers.

The ITC ordered SK Innovation Co. Ltd. (SKI) and its affiliate SK Battery America Inc. of Georgia to cease and desist from importing lithium-ion batteries and their constituents into the U.S. for 10 years—twice as long as ITC staff had recommended—due to its theft of trade secrets from Korean competitor LG Chem Ltd.