Democrat to vote against bill restricting China’s WuXi Biologics, BGI By Reuters

By Karen Freifeld

(Reuters) – An influential Democratic U.S. congressman stated on Friday that he’ll vote in opposition to laws that might limit enterprise with China’s WuXi Biologics (HK:), BGI and different biotech firms on nationwide safety grounds.

Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the rating member on the Home Guidelines committee, advised Reuters he’s making an attempt to persuade colleagues to affix him in opposition.

McGovern stated there was no course of for a way firms had 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 People’ private well being and genetic info in addition to U.S. pharmaceutical provide chains.

McGovern, the highest Home Democrat on the Congressional-Government Fee on China and a critic of China’s human rights abuses, stated, “Firms offering delicate info to the Chinese language authorities is an actual and vital concern.”

“However the backside line is, it is a awful invoice.”

The invoice is scheduled to be voted on below 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 stated that “biotech firms beholden to our foremost adversary, the Chinese language Communist Social gathering, pose an amazing nationwide safety danger” and that WuXi Biologics, BGI and WuXi AppTec have a demonstrated historical past of working with the celebration.

The laws additionally identifies WuXi AppTec, MGI and Full Genomics as firms of concern.

The businesses deny posing any risk to U.S. nationwide safety and every says they shouldn’t be included within the invoice.

The laws should cross each the Home and Senate earlier than President Joe Biden might signal it into legislation.