Fourth-quarter 2018 foreign direct investment flows in the United States registered $88 billion, following a strong investment of $119 billion in the third quarter. Foreign direct investment flows in fourth-quarter 2018 were the third strongest over the past two years.
Foreign direct investment in the United States in 2018 was down eight percent from 2017 and down 44 percent from the record-breaking level attained in 2016.
Whether the United States will retain its status as the world’s most attractive investment location hinges on macroeconomic policy decisions, both in the United States and abroad. While U.S. tax reform generally improved U.S. economic competitiveness, recent trade policy actions have injected a tremendous level of uncertainty into the U.S. business climate for international companies.
