Investment Blog

Many businesses will suffer greatly from the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While many governments are supporting citizens and businesses through wealth transfers and stimulus packages, some are also beginning to show concern for the vulnerability of domestic business to “predatory foreign investors.”… Read More »New Foreign Investment Restrictions – COVID-19 Uncertainty

A March 26, 2020 report from UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) suggests that the global coronavirus pandemic could cut global foreign direct investment (FDI) by as much as 40%. This represents a significant downward shift from previous projections, which had anticipated FDI would decrease by… Read More »Coronavirus Woes – Global Investment & China

China’s well-documented fight against the now-global COVID-19 pandemic shifted the country’s economic fortunes in a matter of months, compounding existing domestic financial uncertainty. Data released in early March confirms that after approximately two months of near-shutdown, the Chinese economy faces a long road to recovery. … Read More »Coronavirus Struggles – China’s Economic Data Paints a Bleak Picture and a Slow Return to Normalcy

On January 13, 2020, roughly a year and a half after it was signed into law, the U.S. Department of Treasury introduced two final Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) regulations. This concludes a period of public consultation and, according to the final press release,… Read More »U.S. Releases Final Regulations Implementing FIRRMA

China has formally announced plans for two internationally-oriented economic/trade events in Qingdao, a sprawling port city and a coastal hub in the country’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Shandong provincial government, in partnership with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, will host the “2019 New… Read More »China Announces Qingdao Fair and Multinational Summit

On Sunday, August 18, an estimated 1.7 million Hong Kong residents marched in an anti-government rally. Protests have continued with regularity for over two months, in what was originally a response to a controversial extradition law amendment that would permit individuals arrested in Hong Kong… Read More »Protests Heighten Business Concerns in Hong Kong

On March 15, 2019, members of the National People’s Congress voted to pass a new law on foreign investment in China, the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China (“中华人民共和国外商投资法 “). China’s initial period of reform and opening up, beginning in 1979, led to the… Read More »China’s New Foreign Investment Law

US markets rallied early last week with the announcement of a moratorium on new tariffs between the US and China by Presidents Trump and Xi at the recent G20 meeting in Argentina. While this is a positive step towards de-escalation, it remains unclear whether or… Read More »Trade War Truce On Unstable Grounds

The U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”)  Bureau of Industry and Security may soon implement export controls for certain emerging technologies, as per a November 19, 2018 posting. Under the authority of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, Commerce is authorized to “establish appropriate controls, including… Read More »U.S. Announces Plans for Technology Export Controls

The European Union will tighten rules surrounding foreign investment into Europe, as Chinese investment and influence grows in the region. The European Parliament and negotiators from the 28 EU Member Nations agreed on draft legislation aimed at protecting European strategic interests while promoting investment. Although not mentioned… Read More »EU Expands Foreign Investment Guidelines as Chinese Influence Grows