Washington, DC - Today, the Department of State released its Investment Climate Statements for 2018. Economic officers stationed at U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions around the world prepare these annual reports analyzing 170 foreign markets to help U.S. companies make informed business decisions about foreign markets. The reports survey Openness to Foreign Investment, Legal Regimes and Transparency, Industrial Policies, Protection of Real and Intellectual Property Rights, State-Owned Enterprises, Responsible Business Conduct, Corruption, and Political and Security Environments.

This year’s Investment Climate Statements feature a new, streamlined format to help companies more easily access information about countries that have implemented business-friendly reforms, export opportunities around the world, as well as new and ongoing market barriers.

The reports can be viewed at the following link: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/index.htm.