The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies, both at the national and international levels.

Most governments are keen to attract and facilitate foreign investment as a means for productive capacity-building and sustainable development. At the same time, numerous countries reinforce the regulatory environment for foreign investment, make more use of industrial policies in strategic sectors, tighten screening and monitoring procedures, and closely scrutinize cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As).

This special edition of the Investment Policy Monitor presents recent developments concerning the screening of cross-border M&As. An analysis by UNCTAD of large M&As withdrawn between 2008-2012 shows that a significant share was abandoned due to regulatory concerns, such as competition issues, economic benefit tests and national security screening, or political opposition.