In December 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the HFCAA). The HFCAA requires auditors of foreign companies that are publicly traded in the US to allow the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to inspect the auditors’ audit work papers for audits of non-US operations. If a company’s auditors fail to comply with the inspection requirement for three consecutive years, trading in such foreign company’s securities would be prohibited in US markets. The HFCAA also amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission identify foreign issuers that use an audit firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction in which the PCAOB is restricted from inspecting or investigating the audit firm, and imposes additional SEC disclosure requirements on such foreign issuers.
Continue Reading Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act Signed Into Law by President Trump

On November 23, the Division of Corporation Finance (the Division) of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued CF Disclosure Guidance: Topic No. 10 (the Guidance), providing the Division’s views regarding disclosure considerations for companies based in or with the majority of their operations in the People’s Republic of China (referred to as “China-based” companies).
Continue Reading Division of Corporation Finance Issues Disclosure Consideration for China-Based Issuers

On May 16, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR) issued No-Action Letter 17-26, which extends relief previously granted to the Shanghai Clearing House under CFTC No-Action Letter 16-56. CFTC No-Action Letter 16-56 is effective until (and excluding) May 31.
Continue Reading CFTC’s Division of Clearing and Risk Extends No-Action Relief for Shanghai Clearing House