Proposed 'No AliPay Act' Bans All US Financial Transactions with the Platform, Affecting Tourists and Businesses

The proposed “No AliPay Act of 2025” is short, but its impact is massive: it completely bans any “United States Person” from conducting any financial transaction with AliPay (China) Internet Technology Company Limited or any of its associated payment processing services (SEC. 2).

If this bill passes, it’s not just a restriction on a specific app; it’s a full financial firewall. The bill defines a “Financial Transaction” extremely broadly, covering anything that “affects interstate or foreign commerce” and involves moving funds or using a financial institution. Basically, if you use a bank or send money, it’s covered. The real kicker is the definition of “United States Person,” which includes not only citizens and permanent residents but also any individual “who is physically present in the United States” (SEC. 2. Definitions).

The Tourist Trap and the Broad Net

For the average American, this means you can’t use AliPay, period. But the most significant impact falls on two groups: businesses engaged in cross-border trade and, surprisingly, tourists and temporary visitors. Imagine a tourist from China who relies on AliPay for almost everything. Under this bill, the moment they step onto U.S. soil, they become a “United States Person” and are immediately prohibited from using their primary payment method for transactions like buying a coffee or paying a hotel bill. This creates a huge logistical headache for travelers and businesses that cater to them.

Cross-Border Commerce Hits the Wall

For small businesses or entrepreneurs who use AliPay to facilitate payments from customers or suppliers in Asia, this bill rips that channel away instantly. The prohibition is total. If you run an e-commerce site and accept payments via a gateway that uses AliPay’s processing, that connection must be severed. This isn't about regulating data; it’s about shutting down a specific financial pipeline entirely, potentially forcing businesses to scramble for new, less convenient, or more expensive alternatives to maintain international sales. This is a direct hit to market access and consumer choice, justified only by the bill’s existence, not by any stated national security rationale within the text itself.

The Enforcement Gray Area

Because the definition of “Financial Transaction” is so wide—covering anything that affects commerce “in any way”—it creates a massive gray area for enforcement. Does simply accessing a foreign website that uses AliPay for internal processing count? What about an American working abroad who temporarily uses AliPay and then returns to the U.S.? While the intent is clearly to block the use of the platform, the sweeping language could inadvertently catch many incidental commercial activities, making compliance confusing and potentially burdensome for individuals and financial institutions alike.