Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026
To amend section 1839 of title 18, United States Code, to provide that an entity domiciled in a foreign adversary country is a foreign instrumentality for purposes of the prohibition on economic espionage under such section.
This bill seeks to update the definition of "foreign instrumentality" in the economic espionage law. Specifically, it proposes that any entity based in a country deemed an adversary by the U.S. government would be considered a foreign instrumentality for economic espionage purposes. This means that actions taken by these entities to steal or obtain sensitive economic information would be subject to stricter penalties.
This bill would affect entities domiciled in countries identified as adversaries by the U.S. government. By classifying these entities as foreign instrumentalities, the bill aims to enhance protections against economic espionage activities targeting U.S. businesses and intellectual property. Essentially, it would make it easier to prosecute entities from these countries for economic espionage.
The bill was introduced on July 20, 2026, and was immediately referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration. As of now, it is in the initial stages of the legislative process and awaits review and potential amendments by the committee.
