Citi: Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese Corporate Investment in the U.S. Set to Keep Growing
nashnova research
Citi's head of international business says supply-chain restructuring is driving sustained Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese investment into the US, with North American inbound business already posting double-digit growth — a sign that cross-border capital flows are being reshaped by the manufacturing reshoring wave.
Why are Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese firms pouring money into the US?
Ernesto Torres Cantu, Citi's head of international business, points to global supply-chain restructuring as the core driver.
This means → it is not a one-off corporate decision but an entire industrial chain relocating toward the US.
He compares the capex cycle to a multi-stage factory buildout: land first, then construction, then daily operations — spending compounds over time, "so it just keeps adding up."
How much money has already landed?
Citi and JPMorgan are financing projects tied to Japan's $55 billion US investment commitment.
The White House recently unveiled the first tranche of South Korea's $350 billion strategic investment plan.
In plain terms = the two countries' disclosed commitments alone approach $400 billion — not letters of intent, but deals already seeking bank financing.
Beyond tariffs, what else is reshaping trade flows?
Torres Cantu notes that the Gulf war's disruption to corporate trade flows and supply chains may be more significant than tariffs, forcing many firms to redraw their layouts.
This reflects a broader reality: cross-border capital moves on geopolitical shocks, not just trade policy.
The resulting demand keeps Citi busy executing payments, trade finance and settlement — Citi's services unit posted 15% revenue growth this quarter, well above the firm's overall 8% pace.
Outside the US, which cross-border corridors are also gaining volume?
UK-India trade has seen "significant growth" following tariff reductions.
The EU-India free trade agreement takes effect in 2027, set to unlock "substantial business opportunities."
From China, cross-border fund flows have expanded more than 20% annually over the past two years; Citi recently won approval to set up a wholly owned securities subsidiary in China to build on its corporate banking base.
What this tells us → Citi is not betting on a single "invest-in-America" theme but on multiple cross-border corridors scaling simultaneously.
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