The Grand Forks Air Force Base has been added to the list of installations that will require additional reviews when foreign entities seek to buy nearby property.
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer says a total of nine U.S. military bases are covered under the policy decision. Cramer says the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will now cover transactions within 100 miles of the installation.
U.S. Senator John Hoeven says the move is long overdue. “The CFIUS process needs to be updated, and this is an important step to help ensure that we can protect our security interests.
The move is in response to Fufeng’s purchase of over 300 acres of land in north Grand Forks for a proposed corn milling plant. The city council nixed the project with the China-based company after a top U.S. Air Force official labeled it a national security concern.
Fufeng makes products for animal nutrition, the food and beverage industry, pharmaceuticals, health and wellness, oil and gas, and others industries. It’s a leading producer of xanthan gum. It denied that the plant would be used for espionage.
Although the project was scrapped – the company still owns the land in question.
The Air Force was not immediately available for comment on why the eight bases were selected.
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