There have been significant recent developments related to the treatment of foreign investments in the critical minerals sector, particularly by foreign state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
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Chinese investment in Australia fell in value and number for the calendar year 2020 from the previous year. Investment value was down 26.8 percent to $2.5 billion from $3.4 billion in 2019, the lowest level since 2007, according to a new report by the University of Sydney and KPMG.
The number of deals was also down – by more than half, from 42 in 2019 to 20 in 2020. The fall in investment came against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in a 35 percent reduction in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows globally, deteriorating bilateral diplomatic relations between Australia and China, and increased government intervention in foreign investment in both Australia and China.