Trump Blocks HieFo-Emcore Deal Over Security, China Concerns

President Donald Trump blocked a $3 million acquisition by U.S. photonics firm HieFo Corp on Friday, citing national security and China-related concerns. The order prohibits HieFo’s purchase of assets from New Jersey-based aerospace and defense specialist Emcore, Retuers has reported.

In the White House order, Trump said HieFo was “controlled by a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.” He stated the 2024 acquisition could allow the company to “take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.” The order did not name the individual or detail the specific concerns.

“The Transaction is hereby prohibited,” Trump said. He ordered HieFo to “divest all interests and rights in the Emcore Assets, wherever located,” within 180 days.

The Treasury Department said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) identified a national security risk during its investigation of the deal. The statement did not specify the nature of that risk.

HieFo and Emcore could not immediately be reached for comment late Friday and had not posted any reaction on their websites.

Emcore, which was publicly traded at the time of the deal and later taken private, has said HieFo bought its chips business and indium-phosphide wafer-fabrication operations for $2.92 million.

HieFo said at the time it was co-founded by Genzao Zhang, a former Emcore vice president of engineering, and Harry Moore, whose LinkedIn profile describes him as a former senior sales director at Emcore.