A U.S. government panel that reviews foreign takeovers of American companies should continue to focus on national security, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, downplaying speculation that the Trump administration would expand its authority.

"For national security reasons, we can block investment, and that will be something we continue to do," Mnuchin said Monday in an interview with Bloomberg Television, when asked about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which is known as CFIUS.

Chaired by Mnuchin, the panel reviews foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies for national security risks. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been pressing the Treasury Department for years to broaden CFIUS's purview to include foreign investments into so-called "soft power" institutions, such as Hollywood movie studios.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to Treasury & Risk, part of your ALM digital membership.

  • Critical Treasury & Risk information including in-depth analysis of treasury and finance best practices, case studies with corporate innovators, informative newsletters, educational webcasts and videos, and resources from industry leaders.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and Treasury & Risk events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including PropertyCasualty360.com and Law.com.
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.