OBELA Analysis

China's expansion in Latin America is not limited to trade, investment and clean energy, as financing in the region is increasingly important. There are two forms of financing for Latin America from the Chinese giant: commercial banking and development banking.

Between 2005 and 2018, there is a total of $141 billion in loans to Latin American countries. The loans to Latin America are mostly energy projects (69%), including hydroelectric plants in Ecuador, the solar park in Jujuy and oil production in Brazil and Venezuela.

China reaffirms its interest in the region with the expansion of financing to Latin American countries, and its search for hegemony takes another step forward by financing and building projects that help the New Silk Road located in Latin America.

The change in the energy matrix plays a fundamental role in the development of the trade war. Photovoltaic cells and solar panels have been subject to various US sanctions as a tool against Chinese expansion in this sector.
The Chinese government, on the other hand, has launched a plan to generate renewable energies on a massive scale, and considers innovation and the search for alternative energy sources as strategic emerging industries.
In Latin America there are large projects such as Cauchari in Jujuy, Argentina, in Chihuahua, Mexico, as well as in Chile and other countries

The US launched a tariff war, from 2018, against the most dynamic export economy: China. The aim was not only to reduce the trade deficit with this economy, but also to weaken its economic growth dynamics and reduce its growing share in the export market. However, the result has not favoured the US and has been adverse to the multilateral international order.
After 23 months of war, 7 rounds of mutual tariff aggression, more than 15 thousand products taxed, 600 billion dollars in tariffs and two periods of truce the two economies entered into a first agreement.
With this Agreement and the new NAFTA the United States advances in the construction of a new international commercial order on the law of the strongest.