The US–Sino Policy Tracker is a non-exhaustive database of federal and state-level policies in the United States that affect academic exchange, research collaboration, funding eligibility, and institutional governance, engagement, or related areas involving China. Developed as part of the Henry Luce-supported project Supporting International Values in the Research Enterprise, the tracker maps the evolving US policy landscape affecting US-China academic relations since 2018. While focused on China, many of the policies within apply to international researchers and global academic engagement more generally.
What does the tracker include?
The tracker includes enacted and proposed legislation, executive actions, regulations, administrative policies, funding restrictions, enforcement initiatives, and other relevant federal and state-level actions. State-level coverage reflects policies identified to date; only states with relevant policies are listed. As new policies emerge, additional states and policy actions will be added.
Policies are categorized by jurisdiction, policy type, policy theme, and policy status to enable structured comparison across levels of government. By organizing policies in this way, the tracker aims to support scholarly research, inform policy discussions, and assist universities and other stakeholders in navigating this evolving environment.
Note: Inclusion in the tracker does not constitute an endorsement of any policy, its intent, or its effects. Policies are included based on publicly available information and have not been evaluated for effectiveness or impact. Wherever possible, the government website describing the policy is provided. Some items include links to a news source reporting on the policy.
Using the tracker
We invite users to explore the tracker using its filtering functions. More information about the methodology and scope of the tracker is included in its “About section.” The dataset is intended as a living resource with new additions and updates added as they emerge. We welcome your feedback and invite you to send questions, comments, and suggestions for policy additions to Ruby.MacDougall@ithaka.org.