Just about any country you can think of has interests in the United States, ranging from policy concerns to tourism and trade promotion. Many governments, companies and other entities pay foreign agents to influence U.S. policy and opinion in pursuit of those interests. Foreign Lobby Watch uses the semi-annual reports foreign agents are required to file with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to calculate the countries with the highest spending, learn more about different registrants acting on behalf of foreign interests, and more!
Concerns over lobbying practices and demands for transparency in public decision making have led to countries increasingly discussing lobbying in the political and policy arena. Lobbying can provide decision–makers with valuable insights and data, as well as grant stakeholders access to the development and implementation of public policies. However, lobbying can also lead to undue influence, unfair competition and regulatory capture to the detriment of the public interest and effective public policies. A sound framework for transparency in lobbying is therefore crucial to safeguard the integrity of the public decision–making process.
