Chinese electric car giant BYD is investing US$290 million to build a lithium cathode factory in Chile, after securing raw materials at a discount from local suppliers.

Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba visited China last week and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both sides agreed to bolster trade and investment, and strengthen cooperation in environment and infrastructure.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva visited China last week, and the two sides signed a number of agreements related to trade, investment, lending, space exploration, technology and innovation. However, there was no announcement on Brazil joining the BRI, despite the hopes of some on both sides.

A new law review article discusses the Huawei investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) challenge to the Swedish government's decision to ban its products from the 5G network on the basis of national security concerns. The author concludes that "it is likely that the arbitral tribunal will substantially

The Canadian Parliament has been debating legislation proposed by the Liberal Trudeau government that would amend Canada's investment screening procedures. During the debate, concerns about China have been raised a number of times by the Conservative opposition party, who are pushing to strengthen the bill in several ways.

Last year, a Chinese company announced a $2 billion dollar investment in a battery component factory in Michigan. Like some other recent Chinese investments in the United States, however, this one has now been caught up in political controversy.

A new research note looks at the extent of Chinese and other foreign ownership of U.S. land. This issue has been controversial in the U.S. Congress and in state governments in recent months, with various proposals to restrict this investment.