Before Covid-19, Chinese direct investment in US dropped to lowest in 2019

Direct investment includes mergers, acquisitions and investments in things like offices and factories but not financial investments like purchase of stocks and bonds

China's direct investment in the United States last year fell to its lowest level since the Great Recession, even before the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of global commerce.

The decline in Beijing's investment in the US reflected tensions between the world's two biggest economies and Chinese government restrictions on overseas investment.

A report released on Monday by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the Rhodium Group consultancy found that China's direct investment in the US dropped from $5.4 billion in 2018 to $5 billion last year, the lowest level since the recession year of 2009.

Direct investment includes mergers,