Several countries want to increase national
security reviews of foreign buyers, and have set plans in
motion to implement investment clearance
reforms
From Brussels to Canberra, policymakers continue to weigh
the benefits of traditional open investment frameworks against
growing anxiety over increasing investment from China and other
economic and strategic competitors in sectors that are
considered critical. The EU is considering adopting a
region-wide investment screening mechanism for the first time.
Australia, for its part, recently tightened restrictions on
foreign acquisitions of agricultural land and electricity
infrastructure. Likewise, in the US, the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States (Cfius) continues to make
headlines. To date this year, at least four transactions
involving Chinese parties have been frustrated and abandoned
due to failure to achieve Cfius clearance....