The recent XV Spain-United States Business Forum in Madrid featured top-tier Spanish companies, public institutions, and experts with vast experience in the U.S. The message was clear: the United States remains a great investment opportunity, but when considering US Investment Strategies, the market is not for improvisers. If you are going to take the step, you need a strategy, local presence, and expert guidance.
This article extracts the best insights from the forum, reinforces them with updated market data—such as the energy or regulatory landscape—and provides you with what wasn’t discussed in the presentations: what to do, how to prepare, and what to avoid. Let’s keep our feet on the ground.
1. How Major Spanish Companies View the U.S. Market Today
The forum’s «From Experience: Strategies for Investing in the U.S.» section included executives from companies like Indra Group, Iberdrola, Técnicas Reunidas, Isotrol, and ACS Group. These were the main conclusions:
- Major companies highlight the scale advantage offered by the U.S.: the market, resources, and business infrastructure are mature.
- But they warn that the regulatory, tariff, and incentive dynamics are changing rapidly.
- For example, ACS stressed the need for local production to align with «Buy American» policies and avoid barriers.
- Iberdrola pointed out that the regulatory environment is stable, which instills confidence, but competition is high and margins can be squeezed.
- Indra insisted on the «follow the client» tactic: if you have a Spanish client moving to the U.S., accompany them.
- Isotrol emphasized speed: adapting quickly to the market, regulations, and talent.
- Técnicas Reunidas highlighted the importance of logistics and the supply chain when operating in the U.S.
In summary: Entering the U.S. is viable even for Spanish companies, but you must rigorously address the following axes: local presence, regulatory adaptation, strategic alliances, and execution speed.
2. Strategies for Entering the U.S. Market
Based on the forum discussions and corroborated with market data:
Common Strategies that Have Worked:
- Acquire a local company or partner with an established player to gain presence and credibility from the start.
- Create or establish a subsidiary/region in the U.S., with local management, to reduce the perception of being a «foreign company» and better comply with local requirements.
- Build bridges to current clients already operating in the U.S. and leverage their network and knowledge.
- Adapt to the U.S. supply chain: produce, assemble, or at least have essential parts locally to avoid tariff barriers or reprocessing.
- Hire strong local talent from the outset (not just expatriates) to understand the market, the work culture, and the specifics of the environment.
3. U.S. Economic Outlook and Energy Sector: How Are Things?
This is a key point, because the forum emphasized energy, infrastructure, and transition, but recent data shows the need for nuance.
General Economy
- The U.S. maintains a relatively robust economy despite global tensions: strong internal consumption, resilient employment, and a commitment to technology and innovation.
- Industrial policy has intensified: laws like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS and Science Act have introduced incentives for production, energy, and semiconductors.
- The investment environment is marked by regulatory uncertainty, especially regarding renewable energy, tax incentives, and the localization of supply chains.
Energy / Renewables Sector
- Investment in renewables in the U.S. remains high, but there are signs that certain incentives are becoming limited.
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025 introduced significant changes to the tax credit regime for renewables (solar, wind).
- According to data, while the transition to renewables continues, investment in fossil fuels (especially natural gas) remains significant and will be part of the mix in the coming years.
What to Qualify Regarding the Forum
The forum mentioned energy and transition as great opportunities. Correct. But you cannot assume that «all renewables» is an easy entry point: there is regulatory risk, changing incentive deadlines, growing competition, and the need for local adaptation.
Therefore, the opportunity is real, but conditions are evolving rapidly: local production, value chain, regulatory compliance, project quality, and execution speed will be decisive factors.
4. Key Legal and Fiscal Aspects for Investing in the U.S.
Clear guidelines were extracted from the panel «Scenario and Guidelines for the Entrepreneur.»
4.1 Corporate Structure
- Choosing the type of entity (corporation, LLC, partnership) in the appropriate state is key.
- Decide: subsidiary vs. branch. A subsidiary usually offers greater liability protection and better local perception.
- It is important for the entity to have local staff, possibly a local board, to build credibility.
4.2 Taxation
- Evaluate federal + state + local taxes: the U.S. is not just «corporate tax»; there are payroll tax, state income tax, sales tax, etc.
- Planning is key.
- In energy/renewables, for example, many tax incentives depend on meeting conditions for production, location, start of construction, etc.
- If you produce in the U.S., you will be better positioned; if you import almost everything, you may lose advantages.
4.3 Visas, Talent, and Labor Laws
- Hiring in the U.S. involves challenges: extensive labor regulations, litigation, HR obligations.
- Visas: You must anticipate the type of visa for expatriates, executive transfers, and local hires. A mistake in this area can be quite costly.
- Social security agreements between Spain and the U.S., double contribution, etc., must also be reviewed.
- Important: implement an HR plan that includes competitive salary, local culture, talent retention, and labor compliance.
4.4 Regulatory Compliance and Permits
- Depending on the state, activity, and sector, you need special licenses, environmental permits, insurance, etc.
- In sectors like energy, infrastructure, or services, the time to obtain these can be long.
5. Specific Opportunities for 2025–2026
Applicable for Spanish investors, SMEs, or large companies:
- Energy and Renewables + Transition
- Demand is still high: the U.S. seeks to modernize its electrical system, grids, storage systems, and local production.
- Investment in the manufacturing of components, batteries, hydrogen, etc., presents interesting niches.
- But beware: traditional incentives for residential solar are expiring, and commercial ones have greater complexity. You must anticipate the end of certain credits.
- Infrastructure and Supply Chain
- The «Produce in the U.S.» policy favors those who design, manufacture, or assemble part of their production locally.
- Companies that can offer logistics, packaging, distribution, and storage services for technological components will have an advantage.
- Technology, Digitalization, and Professional Services
- Spain already has competitive advantages in engineering, consulting, and cybersecurity.
- These areas require less capital than heavy energy, making them more affordable entry points for medium-sized companies.
6. Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking that «what works in Spain works in the U.S.» without adapting the business model.
- Underestimating the cost and time of entry: legal, fiscal, HR, permits, and cultural.
- Not having a local presence: without an office, team, or executive management in the U.S., the perception is weak.
- Entering without a strategic ally or without understanding the regulatory environment.
- Expecting quick margins without considering initial investment, compliance costs, and competition.
- Believing that Spanish legal documents or contracts suffice: they must be adapted to the North American framework.
The XV Spain-U.S. Business Forum made it clear that the U.S. remains a great investment opportunity for Spanish companies. But also that it is not a walk in the park: the environment is competitive, and regulatory changes—especially in energy—are active.
If you prepare well, choose the right strategy, localize part of your operation, and surround yourself with the correct professionals, you can enter, grow, and scale. Otherwise, the risk of making a mistake is high.
8. Why Trust Gedeth Network as Your Strategic Ally?
At Gedeth Network, we have:
- Proven international experience in the U.S. and Europe.
- Local contact network: legal, fiscal, HR, sectoral.
- Practical vision: not just advice, but execution.
- Bilingual, bicontinental culture: we speak Spanish, we understand the European and the American mindset.
If you are ready to take the step, let’s talk. Don’t improvise your US Investment Strategies: do it with allies who know the terrain.
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