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China

An American Open Door? Maximizing the Benefits of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment

Chinese overseas direct investment is taking off, and increased investments in American companies could have huge benefits for the US-- unless politicization and fear-mongering turn away potential investments.

Through 2020 Chinese overseas direct investment will boom, and America  will have to react. With triple-digit growth rates in 2009 and 2010,  those flows to the United States have already taken off. This study  dissects the patterns and motives behind this torrent of capital, so  Americans can make sense of it and intelligently discuss the impact. Authors Daniel Rosen and Thilo Hanemann show that there are significant potential benefits associated  with these new investment flows, but that political fear-mongering could  put those benefits at risk. The report offers recommendations for  maximizing American benefits while maintaining our vital security  interests.

The report was launched on May 4, 2011 with a keynote address by then-Secretary of Commerce and now US Ambassador to China Gary Locke. Corresponding to the release of the report, RHG launched the China Investment Monitor, an interactive map of Chinese investment in the US by state, sector, year, type, and government ownership status.

Video preview of “An American Open Door?”

Senator Dianne Feinstein remarks on the report

Download the Report