America First, U.S. Infrastructure, and Chinese Investment

In 2013, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a report, "From International to Interstates: Assessing the Opportunity for Chinese Participation in U.S. Infrastructure". As observed in that report:

"The pressing need for capital to modernize U.S. infrastructure is creating substantial new opportunities for Chinese investors. At a minimum, we estimate that more than $8 trillion in new investment will be needed . . . from 2013 through 2030 - totaling some $455 billion per year." 

With President Trump highlighting the need for investment in U.S. infrastructure, various plans now are being considered (for a few examples, see here, here, and here). 

Assuming a significant increase in U.S. infrastructure investment, the role, if any, to be played by Chinese investors in the process will be an interesting issue to watch, given the combination of increasing levels of Chinese investment in the United States, enhanced U.S. scrutiny of such investment, and President Trump's "America First" orientation. 

I discuss U.S. national security reviews of Chinese investment in China's Outbound Foreign Direct Investment: The U.S. Experience, which is forthcoming in a Special Issue on The Regulatory Response to China's State-Owned Enterprise Investment Abroad in the International Journal of Public Policy.