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3 clusters · 6 sources · 16 days · First seen · Last updated

US-China tech and biotech rivalry

Overview

In mid‑July 2026 U.S. congressional leaders convened a round‑table on the strategic competition with China in technology and pharmaceuticals, warning of systemic threats to critical supply chains and introducing bipartisan measures such as the “Silicon Shield” expansion and a Senate bill to increase oversight of Chinese investment in biotech. A week later the House advanced the Biotech Investment National Security Act, subjecting licensing agreements with Chinese firms to national‑security review and urging a 100 % tariff on imported medicines.

By the end of July, U.S. officials intensified scrutiny of foreign biotech investments as China’s role as an R&D partner grew. Executive Director John Stanford highlighted concerns over domestic API production, clinical‑trial competitiveness and the ethics of licensing Chinese innovations, and a bipartisan effort sought to place biotech on the Treasury’s outbound‑investment screening list. Licensing deals between U.S. and Chinese biotech firms reached $43 billion in the first five months of 2026. The Department of Defense added WuXi AppTec to a “Chinese military companies” list, potentially restricting its access to U.S. government contracts under the BIOSECURE Act; WuXi disputed the designation and began divesting U.S. and U.K. assets. At ASCO 2026, China’s Akeso presented ivonescimab, the first therapy derived solely from a Chinese clinical trial, underscoring Beijing’s move toward advanced, globally competitive therapies and further fueling U.S. security‑focused policy responses.

Entities

China · United States · WuXi AppTec · Akeso · John Stanford

Timeline

  1. 12 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    US-China biotech investment security debate intensifies

    U.S. policymakers are tightening review of biotech investments amid China’s growing R&D role, citing supply‑chain, trial, and licensing risks; WuXi AppTec faces a U.S. military‑company label while Chinese firms

  2. 18 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    US pushes biotech licensing reviews as China narrows the patent gap

    US lawmakers propose a national‑security review of biotech licensing with China amid a looming patent cliff, citing new pancreatic‑cancer drug breakthroughs and existing protectionist measures.

  3. 27 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    US lawmakers push measures to curb China's tech and pharmaceutical influence

    US Congress urges tighter tech safeguards against China and Senate proposes a bill to monitor Chinese investment in pharmaceuticals, citing supply‑chain vulnerabilities.

Sources

dnyuz.com · fortune.com · globaldata.com · m.scmp.com · pharmexec.com · scmp.com