Growing uncertainty over the US outlook, foreign direct investment shifts toward Asia

April 29, 2026

Published in “FDI INTELLIGENCE” (Financial Times Group) | Written by John Evans (Tractus Co-founder Managing Director)

Donald Trump’s return to the White House was expected to unleash a wave of Asia-to-US foreign direct investment (FDI) projects that had been waiting on the election outcome. However, “Liberation Day” tariffs of up to 49% have frozen much of the region’s manufacturing investment, and the turmoil has not subsided since.

In his latest contribution to “fDi Intelligence”, John Evans, Tractus Co-founder and Managing Director, argues that more than the individual tariff rates, uncertainty in US policy is now the key factor reshaping Asia’s FDI flows. He examines who is winning and who is losing, and why “neutral locations” are becoming an important location factor for multinationals considering their next move in Asia.

Read now