Investment Policy Monitor
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
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The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign 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 is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
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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- United States of America - America First Investment Policy aims to facilitate investment from "allies and partners"
United States of America
America First Investment Policy aims to facilitate investment from "allies and partners"
21 Feb 2025On 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 adversaries" for reasons of national security. The restrictive measures under the policy are detailed in the IPM database: https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-policy-monitor/measures/4987/united-states-of-america-america-first-investment-policy-increases-restrictions-on-fdi-from-and-to-foreign-adversaries- .
The policy reiterates that the United States of America remains open to investment, including in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. For this reason, it seeks to facilitate investment from "allies and partners", as well as passive investment—defined as "non-controlling stakes and shares with no voting, board, or other governance rights and that do not confer any managerial influence, substantive decision-making power, or non-public access to technologies, technical information, products, or services"—which is welcome from all countries.
Key provisions of the policy include the following:
• The policy creates an expedited "fast-track" process for reviewing investments from allies and partner nations, particularly in sectors like advanced technology. It mentions that the process will allow for “appropriate security provisions, including requirements that the specified foreign investors avoid partnering with United States foreign adversaries”.
• The policy also indicates that the use of open-ended mitigation agreements (agreements to address national security concerns from foreign investments through compliance obligations) will cease, in favour of more streamlined agreements emphasizing concrete actions within clear timelines.
• To facilitate significant investments, the policy also mandates faster environmental reviews for projects exceeding $1 billion.
• More administrative resources will be directed toward facilitating investments from key partner countries.
The implementation of the “America First Investment Policy” will proceed through a combination of agency rulemaking, potential legislative actions, and interagency coordination. The exact timelines and outcomes will evolve as these processes unfold.
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Type:
- Entry and establishment (Approval and admission)
- Treatment and operation (Other)
- Promotion and facilitation (Investment facilitation )
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Industry:
- Services (Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Publishing, audiovisual and broadcasting activities, Telecommunications, Computer programming, consultancy and related activities, Scientific research and development)
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Sources:
- The White House, America First Investment Policy, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/america-first-investment-policy/, 31 Mar 2025
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
-
The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign 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 is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
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





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