H.R.867 - IGO Anti-Boycott Act
H.R.867 was introduced on 31 January 2025 by Representative Lawler (R-NY). It is currently pending before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and has 24 co-sponsors on a bipartisan basis. A vote on House passage was scheduled for May 5th 2025, but the Bill was pulled by House Leadership after it became apparent there was insufficient Republic support to advance it.
Related legislation: This Bill modifies the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4841/4842).
Bill Summary: The Anti-Boycott Act prohibits U.S. persons from participating in boycotts of countries friendly to the U.S. with up to 20 years in prison or up to $1 million in fines, if those boycotts are promoted or imposed by foreign countries. Under H.R.867, that prohibition would be expanded to apply to boycotts of such countries that are promoted or imposed by international governmental organizations (IGOs). The Bill also adds a requirement to the statute for an annual public listing of countries and international organizations conducting such boycotts.
Context: Boycotts have been a centerpiece of U.S. public opposition to the actions of countries, including those friendly to the United States, who conduct themselves in a manner contrary to American values. Today, the actions of the Government of Israel make it the leading focus of boycott activities by U.S. citizens and some foreign countries and international organizations, and this Bill would make participation in the formal international “BDS” (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel) movement illegal and punishable by significant penalties. This Bill is one of several ongoing efforts at the Federal and State levels to suppress the American peoples right to free speech and prevent foreign boycotts of Israel and to prevent Americans from engaging with entities engaged in such boycotts, or to conduct such boycotts themselves.
American Values Analysis: The American Revolution started with an act of boycott, the Boston Tea Party, and American courts and society have repeatedly affirmed that the conduct of economic activities contains an element of first amendment free speech protections. American citizens’ participation in international boycotts of apartheid-era South Africa, including by international sporting organizations, was key to bringing down the apartheid system despite opposition to such boycotts by the United States Government. As this Bill would further empower the executive to target international organizations that oppose the ruling party's strategic goals and would restrict Americans’ rights to utilize their first amendment rights to express speech by engaging with international organizations conducting boycotts, it is contrary to America’s interests.
American Interest Analysis: This Bill is contrary to American interests because it disempowers the American people from engaging in economic activities of their choosing and undermines their freedom of speech. It also places American law in opposition to the actions of multiple respected international organizations including the United Nations General Assembly, and would make it illegal for U.S. NGOs to provide international organizations with any information that might support a boycott, such as the names of U.S. companies doing business in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
A New Policy’s Recommendation: Oppose
A New Policy opposes H.R.867 because it would impose further restrictions on the freedom of speech of American citizens - indeed, to the point of criminalizing some forms of speech - undermine the ability of American organizations and persons to support international boycotts, create unnecessary tensions between the U.S. and international organizations exercising their independent rights to boycott foreign countries, and is directly contradictory to this nation’s founding principles.
For more information please contact: Josh Paul, info@anewpolicy.org, (202) 770-0055
