IGO Anti-Boycott Act
IGO Anti-Boycott Act
Plain Language Summary
# IGO Anti-Boycott Act Summary **What the bill would do:** The IGO Anti-Boycott Act would expand existing U.S. laws that prohibit American individuals and businesses from participating in boycotts. Currently, these laws only cover boycotts imposed by foreign governments. This bill would extend those same restrictions to boycotts imposed by international organizations (like the United Nations or other multi-country bodies). It would make it illegal for Americans to refuse doing business with companies from a boycotted country, or to provide information about business relationships with that country—if they're doing so because an international organization asked them to. **Who it affects and key details:** The bill targets American businesses, individuals, and organizations that might comply with international boycotts.
Violations would carry criminal penalties. This appears aimed at preventing Americans from participating in international sanctions or boycotts that the U.S. government hasn't officially endorsed. **Current status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Michael Lawler (R-NY) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full House. It has not passed.
CRS Official Summary
IGO Anti-Boycott ActThis bill penalizes U.S. persons (individuals or entities) that participate in certain boycotts imposed by international governmental organizations (IGOs).The bill expands an existing law that prohibits various actions by U.S. persons in relation to boycotts imposed by foreign governments on a country that is friendly to the United States and not itself the object of a U.S. boycott. This bill applies those prohibitions to similar boycotts imposed by IGOs.Prohibited actions include (1) refusing to do business with companies organized under the laws of the boycotted country, if the refusal is pursuant to an agreement with or request from the country or IGO imposing the boycott; (2) furnishing information about whether any person has a business relationship with or in the boycotted country; and (3) furnishing information about whether someone is associated with charitable or fraternal organizations that support the boycotted country.Criminal penalties for willful violations of this law include fines of up to $1 million. In addition to such fines, individuals may be imprisoned for up to 20 years. Civil penalties may include fines and revocations of export licenses for certain national security-related items.The bill also requires the President to annually submit to Congress and make available to the public a report describing these boycotts and listing the foreign countries and international organizations involved in fostering or imposing them.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.