"Trump used the threat of punitive tariffs-import taxes-to pry concessions out of those trading partners, including the investment pledges. The White House has published an even higher investment figure - $9.6 trillion-that includes public and private investment commitments from other countries. Trump himself, never one to undersell his achievements, has put the number far higher-$17 trillion or $18 trillion -though Auclair and Mazarei note that "the basis for his claim is not clear.''"
"All the numbers are huge. Total private investment in the United States was most recently running at a $5.4 trillion annual pace. In 2024, the last year for which figures are available, total foreign direct investment in the United States amounted to $151 billion. Direct investment includes money sunk into such things as factories and offices but not financial investments like stocks and bonds."
Many of America's largest trading partners pledged trillions of dollars in investment in the United States, with commitments exceeding $5 trillion from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Persian Gulf states. The White House cites $9.6 trillion including additional public and private commitments, while the president has claimed $17–18 trillion without a clear basis. Total private investment in the U.S. runs about $5.4 trillion annually, and 2024 foreign direct investment totaled $151 billion. Pledged amounts vary in time horizons and lack clear metrics, making verification and realization uncertain.
Read at Fast Company
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