Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. Information for the United States may be included below:

FATF status

Puerto Rico is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

Puerto Rico falls within the jurisdiction of the USA with regard to the Mutual Evaluation Report.

The latest follow-up Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in the USA was undertaken by in 2024. According to that Evaluation, the USA was deemed Compliant for 9 and Largely Compliant for 23 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 4 and Substantially Effective for 4 with regard to the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT Regime.

Puerto Rico, as a territory of the United States, operates under the same legal framework, where corruption is not seen as a significant risk for foreign investors. The US market is competitive with numerous business opportunities, though companies must navigate a complex bureaucracy and comply with extensive anti-corruption laws. The government actively enforces these laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which allows for limited exceptions regarding facilitation payments and gifts, although these practices can still lead to violations of other regulations.

Puerto Rico has a high-income economy primarily driven by manufacturing sectors such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and electronics, along with a significant services sector focused on tourism. However, the economy faces challenges including a long-standing recession, high poverty rates, and a reliance on imports for energy and food, compounded by the expiration of tax incentives for U.S. corporations and a public debt crisis.

The investment climate in Puerto Rico is influenced by its status as a U.S. territory, which offers legal protections but also restricts foreign investment. Efforts to attract investment have included tax incentives and initiatives focused on revitalizing the tourism and manufacturing sectors, yet challenges such as bureaucratic inefficiencies, high public debt, and the impact of natural disasters continue to pose significant barriers for potential investors.