The US Treasury, the government department for money, has proposed new rules for American investment abroad. Investment means putting money into a business. The rules would cover China, Russia, Cuba, Iran and North Korea. The government wants to stop this money from helping these countries build military power.
The plan covers computer chips, artificial intelligence and very powerful computers. It also covers technology that uses living things, a special type of computing called quantum computing, and systems that travel at least five times faster than sound. Artificial intelligence is technology that does tasks such as learning.
The rules would only cover investments above $50,000. They would leave out many ways of investing, including buying shares, or small parts of companies. Americans would need to tell the Treasury about some deals, but the rules would stop other deals. The plan builds on rules that President Joe Biden started in 2023 and a law that Congress passed in its 2026 defence bill.
China criticised the plan and said the US should not limit normal business between companies. It also said it would protect its interests. People can send comments on the plan until 7 December. The Treasury will then prepare final rules and set a start date.
