- A U.S. Department of Commerce employee is currently barred from leaving China.
- A Wells Fargo banker, also a U.S. citizen, is facing criminal charges and subject to an exit ban.
- These cases raise concerns over China’s use of exit bans amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions.
- U.S. State Department reiterates warnings for Americans traveling to China.
- The incidents come as both nations try to resolve a high-stakes trade dispute ahead of an August 12 deadline.
A U.S. Department of Commerce employee has been subjected to an exit ban while visiting China in a personal capacity, the U.S. State Department confirmed. The individual, an employee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, has been unable to leave China since mid-April, reports CBS News.
According to a report by The New York Times, the man’s passport, credit card, phone, and iPad were seized by Chinese authorities in Chengdu on April 14. Though his belongings were returned on April 22, he was informed he could not depart the country. The case remains under close watch by the U.S. government, which is actively engaging with Chinese officials for a resolution.
Chinese authorities have refrained from commenting in detail, only stating that China “upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit matters according to the law.”
Wells Fargo Executive Facing Criminal Charges
In a separate case, Chinese officials confirmed that Mao Chenyue, a Managing Director at Wells Fargo, is also under an exit ban and facing criminal charges. Mao, a U.S. citizen originally from Shanghai and now based in Atlanta, is reportedly involved in a criminal case under investigation by local law enforcement.
China’s Foreign Ministry stated that Mao is required to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and is not permitted to leave the country. Mao leads the bank’s international factoring business, according to her LinkedIn profile and a recent press release by FCI, a global factoring network.
Wells Fargo responded by saying the company is “closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible.”
U.S. Travel Advisory and Rising Concerns
The U.S. State Department has not publicly commented on Mao’s case due to privacy reasons but emphasized that the safety of American citizens remains its highest priority. The department has also issued travel advisories urging Americans in China to “exercise increased caution,” warning that Chinese authorities may arbitrarily enforce local laws, including exit bans, without due process.
Many U.S. citizens only discover they are subject to such bans when attempting to leave the country. Legal options to challenge these bans within the Chinese court system are often unavailable.
Furthermore, the Chinese government does not recognize dual nationality. This means U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may face additional scrutiny, the advisory notes.
Exit Bans Amid Fragile U.S.-China Trade Ties
These developments occur against a backdrop of strained U.S.-China relations. In late June, both countries announced they had agreed to the framework of a potential trade agreement aimed at ending a prolonged tariff war.
However, with an August 12 deadline set by President Trump, China must finalize the deal to avoid the imposition of even steeper tariffs, which could escalate the trade standoff further. The U.S. has already implemented tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, while China has responded with its own duties.
The standoff has heightened operational risks for American firms in China. In 2023, Chinese authorities conducted raids on several U.S. companies. At the time, Beijing-based business lawyer James Zimmerman warned that the business environment had become increasingly hostile, with national security concerns overshadowing commercial activity.
“When everything is viewed as a national security matter, anything you do could be considered spying,” Zimmerman said.
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Source: CBS News
