Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026

The Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026 expands the definition of a foreign instrumentality under U.S. law to include entities domiciled in covered nations, in addition to those substantially owned by foreign governments. This change directly affects investigations into economic espionage by broadening the scope of organizations that can be legally classified as foreign agents for the purpose of criminal prosecution. By amending the United States Code, the bill ensures that companies based in specific foreign countries are treated with the same scrutiny as those owned by foreign governments when accused of stealing trade secrets. The provision relies on existing definitions of covered nations found in the National Defense Authorization Act to determine which countries are included in this expanded category.