World trade: Customs dispute: China advertises trading partners in Latin America

China promotes more trade in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in the current customs dispute with the USA. The People’s Republic believes that the “oversized market” of China offers more options for products from that countries, said high -ranking official Miao Deyu in Beijing. He called a recent agreement with Brazil to buy soybeans through China.

China therefore invites the countries to more cooperation in retail, said functional in the Chinese Foreign Office for Latin America when asked whether China is now redirecting its exports intended for the United States to Latin America. According to Miao, 14.7 percent of China’s total exports made up for overall exports in 2024.

At the weekend, representatives of Washington and Beijings met in Geneva in Switzerland to talk about the tariffs. The United States has been raising 145 percent additional tariffs on imports from China since April. With 125 percent, Beijing steered on US goods. Washington used the tariffs as a weapon to exert pressure, said Miao. In contrast, Beijing wants to protect the international trade regulations and improve consumption in Germany.

Meet in next week

China has been trying to position itself as a reliable trading partner for a long time. But the People’s Republic has trade surpluses with many countries – also with the EU, which already protects itself against cheap electric cars from the Far East with tariffs. The weak demand in China is also a major problem for the second largest economy in the world.

In the coming week, the government invites numerous state and government representatives of the community of Latin American and Caribbean states (Celac) to a forum in Beijing. In addition to a joint explanation, part of the meeting should be a action plan with cooperation in raw materials, food and infrastructure by 2027.