US Treasury rule on high-tech investments in China stories

Oct 22, 2026

US Treasury proposes rule restricting high-tech investments in China, Russia and other adversaries

The U.S. Treasury Department proposed a rule Thursday to crack down on American investments in sensitive technologies including artificial intelligence, supercomputing, semiconductors and biotechnology in China, Russia, North Korea and other "countries of concern." The rule expands restrictions under the Outbound Investment Security Program and would apply to investments exceeding $50,000 in these sectors.

Oct 22, 20268 sources

Top claims

▪President Joe Biden initiated outbound U.S. investment restrictions in 2023 through an executive order targeting semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence in China, leading to the creation of the Outbound Investment Security Program.
▪The Biotechnology Innovation Organization stated that an overly broad approach to biotech investment restrictions could create uncertainty for innovators and risk weakening U.S. biotechnology competitiveness.
▪The U.S. Treasury Department's proposed investment rule excludes stock purchases and many financial investments, while allowing U.S. pharmaceutical companies to make cash licensing payments for Chinese medicines without acquiring equity.

Subtopics

AI chips1 AI investment1 Federal agencies1 U.S. technology trade restrictions1 U.S.–China relations1 US-China competition1 US–China AI competition1

Related timelines