Investment Policy Monitor
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The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with up-to-date, country-specific information on recent policy developments affecting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Through its ongoing monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD delivers cutting-edge and forward-looking contributions to investment policy discourse. The Monitor also supports evidence-based policymaking aimed at ensuring that foreign investment contributes to sustainable development. The Monitor also informs the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends featured in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitor publications and the joint UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Investment Measures.
UNCTAD has tracked changes in national policies affecting FDI on an annual basis since 1992. Over time, the methodology has been revised to enhance the quality and consistency of reporting. The most recent revision, completed in 2024, further refined the monitoring framework and applied the updated classification to policy measures dating back to 2012.
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UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor The UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor database compiles official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting foreign investment (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures that have a clear impact on such investment (FDI-related).
The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases).
The classification of measures as more or less favourable to investors is based solely on their potential impact on investors. The type of measures included in each category are described below. This classification does not reflect any value judgement by UNCTAD on the merit or suitability of the measure.
Classification of the nature of measures
More favourable to investors
Liberalization: includes privatization; lifting of entry restrictions (e.g. opening of sectors to FDI) and entry conditions (e.g. minimum capital requirement); removal (total or partial) of FDI screening or approval mechanisms; lifting of foreign exchange restrictions; liberalization of land access.
Facilitation: includes streamlining of investment procedures (e.g. one-stop shops); greater transparency of investment-related laws and procedures (e.g. information portals); introduction by IPAs and other entities of new services to assist investors (e.g. linkages programmes, investor visa facilitation or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms).
Promotion: includes establishment of IPAs or other institutions with a remit as investment promoters and expansion of their mandate; adoption of investment promotion strategy and plans; introduction of PPPs, auctions, and concessions initiatives or framework; introduction of OFDI promotion initiatives.
Incentives: includes adoption of new tax and financial incentives schemes for investment; introduction of other incentives (e.g. citizenship by investment programmes); adoption of new SEZ-related incentives.
Other regulatory changes: includes enhancement of investor treatment and protection guarantees; easing of labour or migration regulations concerning foreign hires and key personnel; removal of operational restrictions on investment (e.g. local content requirements).
Less favourable to investors
Entry: includes introduction or tightening of entry restrictions (e.g. total or partial ban on FDI in specific sectors); introduction or tightening of entry conditions (e.g. minimum investment threshold, joint venture requirements or State participation in strategic sectors); introduction or expansion of screening mechanisms for national security.
Treatment and operation: includes introduction or expansion of foreign exchange restrictions; introduction or expansion of restrictions on foreign hires and key personnel; removal or reduction of investment incentives; introduction or expansion of post-establishment requirements for local content; reduction of guarantees for investment treatment and protection; introduction or expansion of restrictions on OFDI.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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Investment Policy Measures
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United States of America
18 Dec 2025Expands outbound investment screening to additional countries of concern and critical technologies
On 18 December 2025, the United States enacted S.1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The Act includes the Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security Act of 2025 (COINS Act), which codifies and [...]
United States of America
14 Nov 2025Launches $355 million funding initiative to support domestic critical minerals and materials supply chains
On 14 November 2025, the Department of Energy of the United States of America issued two notices of funding opportunity, totalling up to $355 million, to support domestic projects aimed at expanding the supply of critical minerals [...]
United States of America
21 Sep 2025Increase in fees and stricter adjudication for foreign worker visas
On 21 September 2025, the United States issued an Executive Order introducing increased fees and new restrictions on certain foreign worker visas, including H-1B petitions filed by large employers. The measure imposes a $100,000 supplemental [...]
United States of America
26 Aug 2025Removes the Syrian Sanctions Regulations
On 26 August 2025, the Department of the Treasury of the United States issued a final rule removing the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 542) from the Code of Federal Regulations, with the rule taking effect on the same date. [...]
United States of America
08 Jul 2025Launches plan to tighten foreign investment rules in agricultural land
On 8 July 2025, the Government of the United States of America, through the Department of Agriculture, released the National Farm Security Action Plan, which elevates agriculture within the national security agenda. The plan outlines [...]
United States of America
04 Jul 2025Enhances investment tax incentives and energy lease availability
1) On 4 July 2025, the Government of the United States enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119), introducing the following investment-enhancing provisions: The investment tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing, [...]
United States of America
04 Jul 2025Schedules early termination of clean-energy tax credits
On 4 July 2025, the Government of the United States of America enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119). Title VII of the Act, “Termination of Green New Deal Subsidies”, withdraws three producer-side [...]
United States of America
05 May 2025Streamlines approval and permitting for investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing
On 5 May 2025, the President of United States of America issued Executive Order 14293 Regulatory Relief to Promote Domestic Production of Critical Medicines to streamline regulatory review and permitting for the construction and [...]
United States of America
08 Apr 2025New prohibitions and security requirements for data-related transactions with countries of concern
On 8 April 2025, the Department of Justice of the United States entered into force a final rule (28 CFR Part 202) to implement Executive Order 14117, Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States [...]
United States of America
31 Mar 2025Established the United States Investment Accelerator
In implementation of the "America First Investment Policy", on 31 March 2025, the Government of the United States announced that a "United States Investment Accelerator" would become operational within 30 days. The new entity is tasked [...]
United States of America
26 Mar 2025Narrows beneficial ownership reporting to foreign companies; exempts entities created under United States law
On 26 March 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury issued an interim final rule Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirement; Revision and Deadline Extension. The rule narrows [...]
United States of America
20 Mar 2025Expedites approvals and provides federal financing support for mining investment
On 20 March 2025, the President of the United States issued Executive Order 14241 Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, directing federal agencies to accelerate domestic mineral production projects, including [...]
United States of America
01 Mar 2025Streamlines permitting and environmental review for timber production on federal land
On 1 March 2025, the President of the United States of America issued Executive Order 14225, Immediate expansion of American timber production. The Order directs federal agencies to accelerate regulatory and permitting processes affecting [...]
United States of America
21 Feb 2025America First Investment Policy increases restrictions on FDI from and to "foreign adversaries"
On 21 February 2025, the Government of the United States of America published The America First Investment Policy, which aims to encourage investment from allies by facilitating investments while also increasing restrictions on "foreign [...]
United States of America
21 Feb 2025America First Investment Policy aims to facilitate investment from "allies and partners"
On 21 February 2025, the Government of the United States of America published The America First Investment Policy, which aims to boost investment from allies by facilitating investments, while also increasing restrictions on "foreign [...]
United States of America
10 Feb 2025Pauses enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
On 10 February 2025, the President of the United States of America issued an Executive Order imposing a 180-day suspension on the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). This legislation prohibits bribery of foreign [...]
United States of America
26 Dec 2024Introduces higher penalties, expanded information requests, and mitigation response timelines to FDI screening regime
On 26 December 2024, the Department of the Treasury of the United States of America (Office of Investment Security) put into effect a final rule on penalties, information requests and mitigation procedures under the Committee on Foreign [...]
United States of America
28 Oct 2024Finalizes restrictions on outward investment in "critical technology" sectors in countries of concern
On 28 October 2024, the Department of the Treasury issued a Final Rule that will take effect on 2 January 2025. This rule implements Executive Order 14105 of 8 August 2023, “Addressing United States Investments in Certain National [...]
United States of America
03 Oct 2024Raises survey exemption threshold for the Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment
On 3 October 2025, the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce of the United States put into effect a final rule amending title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations § 801.7, revising reporting requirements for [...]
United States of America
08 Jul 2024Expands FDI screening on certain real estate transactions
On 1 November 2024, the Department of the Treasury of the United States, as Chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and in cooperation with the Department of Defense, issued a final rule that significantly [...]
United States of America
30 Apr 2024New National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
On 30 April 2024, the President of the United States signed a National Security Memorandum to secure and enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure and to replace a decade-old document from 2013. Although the memorandum is an [...]
United States of America
12 Feb 2024Updates the Critical and Emerging Technologies List
On 12 February 2024, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released the update to the Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) List. The list contains technologies considered potentially significant to United States [...]
United States of America
12 Feb 2024Strengthens protection of sensitive personal data
On 12 February 2024, the President of the United States issued the Executive Order to Protect Americans’ Sensitive Personal Data. It authorizes the Attorney General to halt the large-scale transfer of personal data to certain countries [...]
United States of America
11 Jan 2024The National Defense Industrial Strategy recognizes threats posed by foreign transactions
On 11 January 2024, the Department of Defense unveiled its National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS), aimed at developing "a more robust, resilient, and dynamic modernised defense industrial ecosystem". The Strategy outlines a [...]
United States of America
01 Jan 2024Beneficial Ownership Information requirements enter into force on 1 January 2024
Starting from 1 January 2024, companies operating in the United States will be required to provide information on their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. [...]
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The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with up-to-date, country-specific information on recent policy developments affecting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Through its ongoing monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD delivers cutting-edge and forward-looking contributions to investment policy discourse. The Monitor also supports evidence-based policymaking aimed at ensuring that foreign investment contributes to sustainable development. The Monitor also informs the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends featured in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitor publications and the joint UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Investment Measures.
UNCTAD has tracked changes in national policies affecting FDI on an annual basis since 1992. Over time, the methodology has been revised to enhance the quality and consistency of reporting. The most recent revision, completed in 2024, further refined the monitoring framework and applied the updated classification to policy measures dating back to 2012.
-
UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor The UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor database compiles official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting foreign investment (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures that have a clear impact on such investment (FDI-related).
The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases).
The classification of measures as more or less favourable to investors is based solely on their potential impact on investors. The type of measures included in each category are described below. This classification does not reflect any value judgement by UNCTAD on the merit or suitability of the measure.
Classification of the nature of measures
More favourable to investors
Liberalization: includes privatization; lifting of entry restrictions (e.g. opening of sectors to FDI) and entry conditions (e.g. minimum capital requirement); removal (total or partial) of FDI screening or approval mechanisms; lifting of foreign exchange restrictions; liberalization of land access.
Facilitation: includes streamlining of investment procedures (e.g. one-stop shops); greater transparency of investment-related laws and procedures (e.g. information portals); introduction by IPAs and other entities of new services to assist investors (e.g. linkages programmes, investor visa facilitation or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms).
Promotion: includes establishment of IPAs or other institutions with a remit as investment promoters and expansion of their mandate; adoption of investment promotion strategy and plans; introduction of PPPs, auctions, and concessions initiatives or framework; introduction of OFDI promotion initiatives.
Incentives: includes adoption of new tax and financial incentives schemes for investment; introduction of other incentives (e.g. citizenship by investment programmes); adoption of new SEZ-related incentives.
Other regulatory changes: includes enhancement of investor treatment and protection guarantees; easing of labour or migration regulations concerning foreign hires and key personnel; removal of operational restrictions on investment (e.g. local content requirements).
Less favourable to investors
Entry: includes introduction or tightening of entry restrictions (e.g. total or partial ban on FDI in specific sectors); introduction or tightening of entry conditions (e.g. minimum investment threshold, joint venture requirements or State participation in strategic sectors); introduction or expansion of screening mechanisms for national security.
Treatment and operation: includes introduction or expansion of foreign exchange restrictions; introduction or expansion of restrictions on foreign hires and key personnel; removal or reduction of investment incentives; introduction or expansion of post-establishment requirements for local content; reduction of guarantees for investment treatment and protection; introduction or expansion of restrictions on OFDI.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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