Semafor recently published a chart titled "Chinese versus US Foreign Direct Investment Flows into Africa."
The chart covers eleven years from 2014 through 2024. China had larger investment flows to Africa every year except for 2022 and 2023. The US actually had negative investment flows for four of the eleven years.
Comment: This is one more indication that the Trump administration's "trade not aid" (and FDI) approach to Africa has severe limitations. Not only has US trade with Africa dropped sharply this century, but FDI flows have also been on a downward trend. Both are determined primarily by private sector engagement. It will take a herculean effort to increase significantly both US trade and FDI.
