The China Securities Regulatory Commission has on its website expressed disappointment with the judge's ruling and commented that it believes it ignores the efforts and progress made on cross-border regulation cooperation between the US and China. The China commission said the two countries agreed on an arrangement in January that gave US regulators access to files on at least four companies.

"It is regrettable that the SEC's administrative law judge has recommended sanctions against the big four firms in China for failing to produce work papers to the SEC in circumstances where such production would have violated Chinese law and regulations," said the Chinese accounting firms in a joint statement after the ruling.

But they added that Chinese and US regulators have made significant progress over the past year in sharing information, which they had worked hard to support.

"This issue has proven a very complex one to deal with," wrote Lee.

If the ban is upheld by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, more than 200 Chinese companies listed in the US will have to find new auditors. Multinationals with big Chinese operations will also have to make new arrangements.

The incident comes as Chinese companies' enthusiasm to list in the US recovers from a low in 2011, when the market froze following allegations by short-sellers including the notorious Muddy Waters LLC.

Eight Chinese companies went public in the US last year, up from three in 2012. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, China's largest e-commerce company by sales, sees the US as an option in for its IPO location.

Lee, from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for China, wrote the issue needs to be resolved at three levels.

First, the SEC has to deal better with reverse takeover companies, which are outside the China Securities Regulatory Commission's jurisdiction.

Second, the SEC needs to collaborate with the China Securities Regulatory Commission in resolving disputes involving Chinese companies listed in the US through IPOs on a case-by-case basis.

Third — and most important — regulators must multilaterally agree on a common international framework for cross-border audit oversight, Lee wrote.

 

Big shake-up for 'Big Four'	Law keeps auditors from releasing data