By Karen Freifeld
(Reuters) – An influential Democratic U.S. congressman mentioned on Friday that he’ll vote in opposition to laws that will prohibit enterprise with China’s WuXi Biologics (HK:), BGI and different biotech corporations on nationwide safety grounds.
Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the rating member on the Home Guidelines committee, informed Reuters he’s attempting to persuade colleagues to affix him in opposition.
McGovern mentioned there was no course of for the way corporations have been included within the laws, and that he couldn’t get a straight reply for why Wuxi Biologics was added. The corporate is constructing a facility in his district.
The Biosecure Act is scheduled for a vote on Monday by the U.S. Home of Representatives. Supporters say the laws, which might topic the businesses to federal contracting bans, is required to guard Individuals’ private well being and genetic info in addition to U.S. pharmaceutical provide chains.
McGovern, the highest Home Democrat on the Congressional-Govt Fee on China and a critic of China’s human rights abuses, mentioned, “Corporations offering delicate info to the Chinese language authorities is an actual and necessary challenge.”
“However the backside line is, it is a awful invoice.”
The invoice is scheduled to be voted on underneath a course of which limits debate, doesn’t enable for amendments and requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage.
A spokesperson for the Home Choose Committee on China mentioned that “biotech corporations beholden to our foremost adversary, the Chinese language Communist Occasion, pose an amazing nationwide safety danger” and that WuXi Biologics, BGI and WuXi AppTec have a demonstrated historical past of working with the get together.
The laws additionally identifies WuXi AppTec, MGI and Full Genomics as corporations of concern.
The businesses deny posing any menace to U.S. nationwide safety and every says they shouldn’t be included within the invoice.
The laws should go each the Home and Senate earlier than President Joe Biden might signal it into legislation.