The IGO Anti-Boycott Act would expand the 2018 Anti-Boycott Act to cover international governmental organizations (IGOs) in addition to foreign countries. Specifically, it would treat IGOs the same way as foreign governments for purposes of the anti-boycott provisions, meaning U.S. persons and entities would be subject to the same restrictions when dealing with or supporting boycotts tied to IGOs. The bill also adds an annual reporting requirement: the President must submit a public report to Congress detailing which foreign countries and IGOs foster or impose boycotts and describing those boycotts. The aim is to extend existing U.S. prohibitions and transparency measures to IGOs, broadening the scope of accountability for boycott activities. The bill was introduced in the House on January 31, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. It does not outline new penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond those already in the Anti-Boycott Act; it primarily expands scope and adds a reporting obligation.
Key Points
- 1Extends the Anti-Boycott Act’s scope to include international governmental organizations (IGOs) alongside foreign countries.
- 2Increases the number of places where “foreign country” is replaced with “foreign country, or international governmental organization” to ensure IGOs are covered by the prohibitions.
- 3Adds a new annual reporting requirement: the President must provide a report to Congress and make it publicly available that lists (A) which foreign countries and IGOs foster or impose boycotts, and (B) descriptions of those boycotts.
- 4Maintains the existing structure and penalties of the Anti-Boycott Act; no new penalties are specified in this text.
- 5Provides transparency by publicly disclosing which entities are involved in or promoting boycotts, enhancing public accountability.