In the United States, a new slap expands its power to block foreign investment

The expanded examination system will apply to companies that design or produce technologies related to 27 industries, including telecommunications, semiconductors and computers. Foreign investors will be required to submit statements notifying their intention to the group at their bid. If they do not, they could be fined up to the value of the transaction.

At a meeting with reporters Tuesday night, senior officials at the Treasury Department pointed out that the program would not focus on China and would apply to any foreign investor. But the White House has sought ways to prevent China from exploiting US technology in critical areas, such as the next generation of wireless technology called 5G, and is committed to the Chinese plan aiming to dominate the high-tech industries, baptized Made in China 2025.

According to data from Public Citizen, a liberal defense group and think tank, 56 percent of Chinese investment in the United States last year was made in areas that Beijing calls "strategic," such as aviation, biotechnology and new energy vehicles. 25% in 2016.

The law, which was adopted with bipartisan support, gave the Treasury Department 18 months to develop rules to implement the committee's new powers, but the program announced on Wednesday will allow the provisions of the law to be enforced. faster.

The panel has already intensified its review of agreements reached under the Trump administration, with the president seeking a more protectionist program called "America First".

Earlier this year, Cfius canceled a proposal to buy Qualcomm, the San Diego-based chip maker, by Broadcom, a Singapore rival, fearing that this poses a risk to national security by depriving the United States of 39, a telecommunications leader. He also refused to approve a $ 1.2 billion deal between MoneyGram, a Dallas-based money transfer company, and Ant Financial, a Chinese electronic payments company.

Republicans and congressional Democrats were generally united in their desire to suppress the theft of American intellectual property by the Chinese.