Malta’s location and size have deterred entry for some suppliers.

Bilateral trade between Malta and the United States has been limited, in part, due to a lack of direct flights or major shipping connections.  Though there is a direct shipping connection to Malta for containerized shipments, partial shipments must come through neighboring European ports.  Local importers mitigate these difficulties by importing high-value, low-volume items and by acquiring goods from U.S. subsidiaries or associates in Europe and other nearby states.

Corruption has been at the forefront of Malta’s politics and society for the last few years.  Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2020 (most recent survey) scored Malta at 53 on a scale of zero (corrupt) to 100 (transparent).  A slow judiciary can draw out legal proceedings for years; Malta’s struggle to close successful prosecutions makes rule of law a significant concern, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Malta on its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in June 2021.