United States of America

United States of America

Expands outbound investment screening to additional countries of concern and critical technologies

18 Dec 2025

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 expands the Outbound Investment Security Program that took effect in 2 January 2025: https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-policy-monitor/measures/4792/united-states-of-america-finalizes-restrictions-on-outward-investment-in-critical-technology-sectors-in-countries-of-concern- 

The COINS Act expands “countries of concern” beyond China (including Hong Kong, China and Macao, China), to also include the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (under the regime of Nicolás Maduro Moros), the Republic of Cuba; the Islamic Republic of Iran; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; the Russian Federation.

In addition to the sectors already covered under the existing Outbound Investment Security Program (semiconductor technology and microelectronics, artificial intelligence systems, and quantum information systems) the COINS Act extends coverage to high-performance computing and supercomputing, and hypersonic systems. The Act further authorizes the Department of the Treasury of the United States to designate additional technologies that "enable the military, surveillance, or cyber-enabled capabilities of a country of concern".

The COINS Act authorizes the Department of the Treasury to define, by regulation, technical parameters determining which covered transactions are prohibited or subject to notification. It also establishes a confidential, non-binding guidance process and a public (non-exhaustive) database of covered foreign persons. Certain transactions are exempt, including those involving publicly traded securities, de minimis investments, intracompany transfers, underwriting with temporary equity holdings, and transactions completed before 18 December 2025, subject to existing regulations.

 

Nature of measure:
  • Treatment and operation
Type:
  • Entry and establishment (Approval and admission - screening)
  • Treatment and operation (Other)
Industry:
  • Manufacturing (Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, and electrical equipment, Manufacture of transport equipment)
  • Services (Computer programming, consultancy and related activities, Scientific research and development)
Inward FDI:
No
Outward FDI:
Yes
Sources:

  • 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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