US Senate committee takes up bill targeting China’s BGI, WuXi Apptec

A bill in the U.S. Senate that would restrict business with China’s BGI, WuXi Apptec and other biotech companies on national security grounds faces its first big test in Congress on Wednesday.
The draft legislation, which is designed to keep Americans’ personal health and genetic information from foreign adversaries, will be discussed in a committee meeting and could be changed and either moved forward for a vote or held back for more discussion.
The bill has spurred deep concern among investors, driving a sell-off in the shares of WuXi AppTec when news of its introduction first reached Chinese markets last month.
As currently written, it would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with China’s BGI, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, their affiliates and other biotechnology companies deemed of concern. It would also stop the government from entering contracts with companies that use their equipment or services.