Anti-China bill softens after US firms complain

Washington

PROPOSED legislation in Congress aimed at preventing China from acquiring sensitive technology is being softened after protests by big US companies who fear a loss in sales, four people with knowledge of the matter said this week.

Two bills in the House of Representatives and Senate would broaden the powers of the inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in hopes of stopping Chinese efforts to acquire sophisticated US technology. The bipartisan legislation has the support of President Donald Trump's administration.