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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Canada
05 Mar 2025Updates Guidelines on the National Security Review of Investments
On 5 March 2025, the Government of Canada updated the Guidelines on the National Security Review of Investments under the Investment Canada Act to better address evolving geopolitical and economic threats. Key changes include: [...]
Canada
06 Feb 2025Releases the Sensitive Technology List
On 6 February 2025, the Ministry of Public Safety, released the Canada's Sensitive Technology List (STL). The STL identifies emerging and novel-use technologies that the Government of Canada deems sensitive to national security and [...]
Canada
03 Sep 2024Tightens the FDI screening regime
On 22 March 2024, the Investment Canada Act was amended, following royal assent, through Bill C-34: "An Act to amend the Investment Canada Act". This amendment ushers in a modernization package aimed at enhancing the Foreign Direct [...]
Canada
04 Jul 2024Tightens scrutiny on critical minerals investments
On 4 July 2024, the Government of Canada published a Ministerial Statement on Net Benefit Reviews of Canadian Critical Minerals Companies. The Statement clarifies that, under the Net Benefit Review regime of the Investment Canada [...]
Canada
01 Mar 2024Foreign investment screening in interactive digital media
On 1 March 2024, the Government of Canada issued a Policy Statement clarifying how the Investment Canada Act providing for FDI screening shall be applicable to investments in Canadian businesses and entities from the Interactive Digital [...]
Canada
05 Feb 2024Increases the thresholds for FDI screening in Canada
The Government of Canada increased the monetary thresholds of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening regime for 2024. FDI review is required if the enterprise value of the target exceeds C$1.326 billion (approximately $1 billion, [...]
Canada
01 Jan 2024Introduced new reporting obligations relating to forced and child labour in supply chains
On 1 January 2024, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act entered into force in Canada. It establishes an obligation for private sector entities and governmental institutions to submit annual reports [...]
Canada
22 Aug 2023Canada expands targeted sanctions
In July and August of 2023, the Government of Canada made several amendments to its Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, resulting in the addition of a total of 59 individuals and 57 entities from the Russian Federation [...]
Canada
22 Jun 2023Canada strengthened its targeted sanctions regime
On June 22, 2023, Canada implemented changes to its targeted sanctions regime through the Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1. The legislation introduced the concept of a "deemed ownership rule," which stipulates that any property [...]
Canada
01 Apr 2023Adopts new investment tax credits to promote clean energy investment
On 8 June 2023, the Federal Budget for the fiscal years 2023–2024 was adopted by the Parliament of Canada. It introduced two new tax credits for clean technology investment and clean hydrogen investment. To be eligible for the full [...]
Canada
01 Jan 2023Prohibits the purchase of residential property by foreigners for a period of 2 years
On 1 January 2023, the "Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act" came into force, which prohibits the purchase of residential property in Canada by non-Canadians. This new legislation will remain in force for two years [...]
Canada
28 Oct 2022Increases scrutiny on investment by foreign State-owned enterprises in critical minerals sectors
On 28 October 2022, the Government of Canada released a policy statement clarifying how the Investment Canada Act will be applied to investments in Canadian entities and assets in critical minerals sectors from foreign state-owned [...]
Canada
25 Oct 2022The Province of Ontario increased the Non-Resident Speculation Tax on residential property
Effective 25 October 2022, the Province of Ontario increased the Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST) from 20% to 25%. The NRST applies to the purchase or acquisition of interest by foreign nationals (including non-Canadian residents), [...]
Canada
29 Sep 2022Bans investment by Canadians in occupied regions of Ukraine
On September 29, 2022, Canada expanded its sanctions under the Special Economic Measure Act to the Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Building on similar measures Canada has already imposed on the regions [...]
Canada
02 Aug 2022Amends the National Security Review of Investments Regulations
On 2 August 2022, the Regulations Amending the National Security Review of Investments Regulations came into force. These Regulations provide an option for non-Canadian investors to obtain pre-implementation regulatory certainty with [...]
Canada
07 Jun 2022Bans provision of services to Russian mining, oil, gas and chemical industries
On 7 June 2022, Canada amended its "Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulation" to include a ban on the export of 28 services to the Russian mining, oil, gas and chemical industries. As a result, Canadians and persons in Canada [...]
Canada
08 Mar 2022Restricts national security and net benefit criteria of screening for investments linked to the Russian Federation
On 8 March 2022, the Government of Canada issued a “Policy Statement on Foreign Investment Review and the Ukraine Crisis”, indicating that, in the case of investments by direct or indirect Russian investors, the Government will find [...]
Canada
28 Feb 2022Bans transactions of Canadian nationals with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other financial institutions
On 28 February 2022, the Government added the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation to its list of entities affected by a general [...]
Canada
22 Feb 2022Bans certain transactions and activities by Canadian nationals in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk
On 22 February 2022, the Government of Canada announced a package of measures in response to the situation in Ukraine. As a result, specific transactions and activities by Canadian nationals in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are [...]
Canada
24 Mar 2021Elevated scrutiny of foreign investment
The Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry issued updated Guidelines on the National Security Review of Investments on 24 March 2021. According to the Guidelines, the Government will increase scrutiny of foreign investment [...]
Canada
01 Jan 2021Canada lowers FDI review thresholds for 2021
The thresholds above which foreign investors in Canadian businesses have to to obtain federal government approval under the Investment Canada Act have been lowered for the year 2021. These thresholds are adjusted annually based on [...]
Canada
31 Jul 2020Temporarily extends timelines for FDI screening
On 31 July 2020, the Order Respecting Time Limits and Other Periods Established By or Under Certain Acts and Regulations for Which the Minister of Industry is Responsible (COVID-19) was issued. Among others, it extends the initial [...]
Canada
18 Apr 2020Enhanced scrutiny of foreign investment during the COVID-19 pandemic
On 18 April 2020, the Canadian Government published its Policy Statement on Foreign Investment Review and COVID-19 that announced an “enhanced scrutiny” of “foreign direct investments of any value, controlling or non-controlling, in [...]
Canada
27 Jun 2018Transportation Modernization Act received royal assent
On 23 May 2018, the Transportation Modernization Act received royal assent. Effective 27 June 2018, it amends the Canada Transportation Act and its rules on Canadian ownership and control in fact for Canadian air carriers. Henceforth, [...]
Canada
23 May 2018Canada eased foreign ownership restrictions in the aviation sector
On 23 May 2018, the Transportation Modernization Act received royal assent. Effective 27 June 2018, it amends the Canada Transportation Act and its rules on Canadian ownership and control in fact for Canadian air carriers. Henceforth, [...]
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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.
Share
Latest publications
