China Keeps U.S. Commerce Department Employee and Wells Fargo Executive Under Exit Bans

Overview

• A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee, traveling in a personal capacity since mid-April, remains barred from leaving China after authorities flagged a visa disclosure issue.
• Wells Fargo managing director Chenyue Mao is subject to a criminal exit ban that led the bank to suspend all employee travel to China.
• The State Department says it is engaging Chinese officials at senior levels to secure the swift release of both Americans and protect citizens abroad.
• China’s Foreign Ministry insists exit bans comply with domestic law but declines to provide any case-specific details.
• Experts warn that China’s low-threshold exit bans, imposed in civil, regulatory and security matters, affect dozens of Americans and heighten legal and business risks.