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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

President Biden issues executive order prohibiting securities investments in Chinese military companies

Financial Crimes OFAC OFAC Designations Sanctions Biden Department of Treasury China Of Interest to Non-US Persons SDN List

Financial Crimes

On June 3, President Biden issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14032, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies.” The E.O. takes additional steps pursuant to the national emergency declared pursuant to E.O. 13959 (covered by Infobytes here), including the threat posed by the military-industrial complex of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and “its involvement in military, intelligence, and security research and development programs, and weapons and related equipment production under the PRC’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy.” The E.O. generally prohibits U.S. persons from “the purchase or sale of any publicly traded securities, or any securities that are derivative of such securities, or are designed to provide investment exposure to such securities, of” any listed Chinese military company. The E.O. also establishes the deadlines for divestment of investments in companies currently listed as Chinese military companies as well as companies that later may be added to the list of Chinese military.

Among other things, the prohibitions apply “except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and not withstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of the order.” The E.O. also prohibits any transactions by U.S. persons or within the U.S. that evade or avoid, have the purpose of evading or avoiding, cause a violation of, or attempt to violate the provisions set forth in the order, as well as any conspiracy to violate any of these prohibitions. Additionally, the Treasury Secretary—after consulting with heads of other executive departments as deemed appropriate—is authorized to take actions, including promulgating rules and regulations, to carry out the purposes of the E.O.

OFAC also published eight new FAQs and seven updated FAQs regarding the new E.O. In addition, several names and entities have been added to OFAC’s Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List.