Public scrutiny of cross-border acquisitions of U.S. companies has increased in recent years as several high-profile deals provoked concerns on Capitol Hill regarding the federal government’s national security review process of such transactions. The interagency body responsible for the reviews, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), was reformed and strengthened during a bi-partisan legislative effort in 2007.  OFII works to ensure the CFIUS process is non-politicized and focused on true national security concerns, thereby maintaining a favorable environment for cross-border transactions that benefit the U.S.’s dynamic economy.

Over the last several years, Congress has increased its scrutiny of cross-border acquisitions of U.S. companies. Several high-profile deals, including Dubai Ports World’s acquisition of several U.S. ports in 2006, provoked concerns on Capitol Hill regarding the national security review process of such transactions and the interagency body responsible for the reviews, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  After a comprehensive debate on the issue, Congress passed legislation aimed at restoring reliability and credibility to the system.  The Foreign Investment and National Security Act (FINSA) was signed into law during the summer of 2007.  OFII,...