The present paper focuses on the important evolution occurring in the U.S. investment policy conducted abroad. This transformation is to respond China’s growing economic influence in developing countries and aims to support U.S. business in competing for overseas investment opportunities. The study of this issue implies the analysis of the main components of the U.S. approach to outward foreign investment and special features of investment regulations contained in the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (BUILD Act). Today a zone of US rivalry with China has become Africa. Over the last 10 years U.S. investment and two-way trade has fallen on the African continent. On the contrary, China is one of the largest foreign direct investors here. But this country’ role is mainly determined by the financing of more, largely critical, infrastructure projects. China has devoted considerable state-directed financing to projects in African countries. However, the result of this China's development policy often becomes “debt traps,” or China’s banks take ownership of the key strategic assets they built. The adopted law should to complement U.S. assistance development objectives and to contribute to the realization of US foreign policy interests. The BUILD Act creates more robust and flexible investment tools for US companies to use, provides technical assistance and increased oversight on development projects. Created International Development Finance Corporation will more than double the amount of money available for US investment in low- and middle-income countries than was previously.