U.S. Senate restricts Chinese biotech companies’ business in the U.S.

The U.S. Senate will begin considering a bill that would restrict the federal government or U.S. companies from doing business with certain Chinese biotech companies on the grounds of protecting Americans' personal information.

On March 6, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee voted 11:1 to pass a draft that may restrict the federal government or U.S. companies from doing business with Chinese biotechnology companies such as BGI and WuXi Apptec. According to the content of the draft, this is to protect Americans’ personal health and genetic information from being used by hostile foreign forces.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who cast the only dissenting vote, believed that this was a protectionist act proposed by some states taking advantage of their anger towards China, which could endanger the U.S. biotechnology supply chain. .

According to Reuters, at the same time, the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced a relevant draft in January this year, accusing WuXi AppTec, BGI, its subsidiary MGI and its U.S. subsidiary CG (Complete Genomics) of collecting data through collecting data . Genetic information poses a threat to U.S. national security. WuXi AppTec, which engages in research and development and pharmaceuticals, has ties to the Chinese military. However, these accusations were denied.

The report pointed out that Rick Connell, WuXi AppTec's chief operating officer for Europe and the United States, said that the company is paying close attention to the Senate committee's consideration of the bill, but after considering the facts, lawmakers will understand that WuXi AppTec is worthy of customers in the United States and around the world. trust. BGI stated that they support the bill to protect Americans’ personal data, but said that their company does not have the authority to access this data; this filing may also drive BGI out of the United States, which is detrimental to industrial competition. CG, headquartered in San Jose, California, said that its company produces genome sequencing tools and does not access or collect personal genetic information.

Reuters has reported that BGI collects genetic data from millions of women for comprehensive research on population characteristics and cooperates with the Chinese military.

The two bills proposed by the House of Representatives and the Senate must be voted by both houses before they can be sent to the President for signature and take effect.