US President Donald Trump has ordered a temporary halt to enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which aims to curb corruption in multinational companies. The 1977 law prohibits American firms from paying foreign officials to secure business deals.
Trump claims the law creates an uneven playing field for US companies, leading to accusations against top executives and large corporations. A notable example is Gautam Adani, the Indian tycoon accused of bribing Indian officials. Goldman Sachs has also settled charges related to bribes paid by its Malaysian subsidiary.
The executive order bars new investigations under the FCPA or enforcement actions for 180 days, while reviewing existing cases to “restore proper bounds” on the law. The attorney general will issue new guidance promoting American competitiveness and efficient use of federal resources.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/us/politics/trump-fcpa-bribery-law-corruption.html