Foreign Investors Should Not Let Fear of CFIUS Limit Investment in US Manufacturers

The United States is the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the world. Over the last several years, foreign direct investment in the U.S. manufacturing sector has increased.  As this investment has increased, however, many members in Congress have become concerned about foreign acquisitions of U.S. manufacturers that are perceived to be essential to U.S. national and economic security. These lawmakers have called for an increase in the scrutiny of these cross-border investment projects by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency committee that is authorized to review, investigate and block any transaction or investment that could result in the control of any U.S. businesses or assets by a foreign person that may raise national security concerns or involve critical infrastructure. Also, while the Trump administration has stated that it welcomes foreign investment into the U.S. manufacturing sector, its heightened interest in national security and strong interest in promoting its "America First" agenda have led to even louder calls for increased CFIUS review.