China’s rise in Latin America & the Global Race for Critical Raw Materials
China and the European Union (EU) are both vying for closer relations with Latin American countries in the context of their respective strategic autonomy policies and the US’s protectionist turn.
China’s role in the region has grown rapidly and sees new growth drivers over the last year in burgeoning Chinese investment (esp. in Brazil) and record imports of agricultural products (such as soybeans). Beijing has sought closer diplomatic connections including through the BRICS group and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, as well as a series of bilateral strategic partnerships. China’s dominance of global rare earth...