Trump Signs New Executive Order Taking Aim at Chinese Apps Including Tencent QQ and WeChat Pay

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a brand new government order Tuesday focusing on two apps owned by Tencent Holdings and a number of other different Chinese language owned apps. The new executive order dated Jan. 5, cites the Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act, the Nationwide Emergencies Act, and part 301 of title 3, United States Code. The apps named within the government order are principally cell on-line cost platforms together with WeChat Pay, Tencent QQ, Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Pockets, SHAREit, VMate, and WPS Workplace.

The EO prohibits after 45 days from the date of the order “any transaction by any particular person, or with respect to any property, topic to the jurisdiction of the US, with individuals that develop or management the next Chinese language related software program purposes, or with their subsidiaries, as these transactions and individuals are recognized by the Secretary of Commerce.”

It’s unclear why Trump signed this government order, as President-Elect Joe Biden will formally be sworn in as President on Jan. 20, and can doubtless not proceed to assist this and different beforehand issued government orders.

The Trump administration hasn’t had a lot success in banning Chinese language apps in 2020; a number of Federal courts have granted WeChat and TikTok preliminary injunctions in opposition to bans within the U.S.

Tencent has deep ties within the leisure, esports, and gaming industries. It owns Valorant and League of Legends developer Riot Games, holds a big stake in Fortnite maker Epic Games (which owns Rocket League maker Psyonix), and has minor investments in corporations similar to PUBG proprietor Krafton Inc., Call of Duty League and Overwatch League proprietor Activision Blizzard, and Rainbow Six Siege maker Ubisoft.