afoul

Increasingly, U.S. companies are worried that by obeying U.S. laws, they could run afoul of Chinese rules.

Some questioned whether these products would comply with current SEC regulations or run afoul of the regulator’s restrictions.

"It is clear from the evidence that the three of them were trying their level best not to run afoul of the law," he said.

If they weigh race too much, they could run afoul of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

But these gains are hitting their limits, and companies have few options to grow without running afoul of capital discipline, analysts say.