Foreign Governments Are Lobbying Congress. 1,000 Entities. 50+ Countries.

The Global Influence Map

When Americans think of lobbying, they picture K Street firms and domestic corporations. But a significant share of Washington's influence industry serves foreign interests. Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act — and the related Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) — entities with foreign ownership or ties must disclose their connections when lobbying the US government.

Our analysis of these disclosures paints a vivid picture of global influence-peddling in Washington. More than 1,000 foreign entities from over 50 countries appear in federal lobbying filings, collectively accounting for thousands of individual disclosure reports.

Which Countries Lobby the Most?

The UK: America's Top Foreign Lobby

The United Kingdom dominates foreign lobbying disclosures with 130 entities and 474 filings. This includes major corporations like British American Tobacco (26 filings), multiple Stellantis/Fiat Chrysler holding companies (which are UK-registered), and defense firms with significant US government contracts.

The UK's dominance partly reflects corporate structure — many multinational companies are incorporated in the UK for tax or regulatory reasons, even if their operations are global. But it also reflects the deep economic ties between the US and UK, particularly in defense, finance, and pharmaceuticals.

The China Question

Chinese entities account for 56 entities and 165 filings — making China the 7th most active country in US lobbying. The most notable names include:

• Huawei Investment & Holding Co. — 5 filings. The telecom giant lobbied as the US government moved to ban its equipment from American networks.
• BYD Company, Ltd. — 5 filings. The electric vehicle maker as it expanded into the US market.
• Zhang Yiming (ByteDance/TikTok owner) — 5 filings. Listed as the individual owner of ByteTeam Ltd, the entity behind TikTok's lobbying as Congress debated a ban.
• Shanghai Shuoda Investment Centre — 11 filings. The most active Chinese entity by filing count.
• Ninestar Corporation — 9 filings. A printer/toner company that faced US sanctions over alleged ties to forced labor.

Chinese lobbying is particularly controversial because of ongoing US-China tensions. Critics argue that Chinese state-linked companies shouldn't be allowed to lobby the US government at all. Defenders note that lobbying disclosure is preferable to the alternative — covert influence operations.

Tax Havens and Corporate Structures

Some of the countries on the list are notable not for their geopolitical significance, but for their role as corporate domiciles. The British Virgin Islands (88 filings),Cayman Islands (88 filings), Luxembourg (70 filings), andIreland (66 filings) appear prominently — not because these tiny jurisdictions have vast lobbying interests, but because multinational corporations register holding companies there.

When a "Cayman Islands entity" lobbies Congress, it's typically a subsidiary of an American or European corporation using an offshore structure. The lobbying disclosure rules capture these relationships, providing a window into the complex corporate structures that global companies use to manage their political influence.

The Biggest Foreign Players

Why It Matters

Foreign lobbying is legal and, in many ways, inevitable in a globalized economy. European automakers lobby on emissions standards. Japanese tech firms lobby on trade policy. Canadian energy companies lobby on pipeline permits.

But the scale and scope of foreign influence in Washington raises legitimate questions. When a Chinese state-linked company hires a K Street firm staffed by former Pentagon officials to lobby on defense policy, the public has a right to know. When a Saudi or Russian-connected entity engages lobbyists to shape sanctions policy, transparency is essential.

That's what these disclosures provide: not a prohibition on foreign lobbying, but a public record of who's trying to influence American policy — and where the money comes from.