China‘s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged to strengthen coordination with Brazil to “resist unilateralism and bullying” amid growing trade tensions between Brazil and the United States.
Wang made the commitment in a phone call with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, as the Brazilian government considers retaliatory trade measures against the US over President Donald Trump’s imposition of 50% tariffs on a range of Brazilian goods.
During the call, Wang described the China-Brazil relationship as being at its “best in history,” according to China’s state-run Global Times.
Wang also expressed China’s willingness to join hands with the BRICS trading block to protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. BRICS, a China-led grouping of emerging economies, is seen as a counter to Western-led groups such as APEC and the G7.
China’s efforts to strengthen ties with Brazil come as part of its broader strategy to expand its influence in Latin America and counter the US’s traditional dominance in the region.
China has surpassed the US as Brazil’s largest trading partner, and two-thirds of Latin American countries have signed up to China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
Brazil exports large quantities of soybeans to China, which relies heavily on imports to meet its demand for the commodity.
The growing trade relationship between China and Brazil has been accompanied by increasing diplomatic cooperation, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Lula da Silva recently discussing ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
The US and Brazil have been locked in a trade dispute since Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee and other goods.
Trump has explained the tariffs as retribution for a domestic legal “witch-hunt” against Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for coup plotting.
The US has also sanctioned Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for overseeing the case against Bolsonaro.
In response to the tariffs, Brazil is considering a coordinated response with China and India to push back against US trade measures. The country’s president, Lula da Silva, has claimed that Trump “doesn’t want to talk” to negotiate better trade terms for both countries.
The growing tensions between the US and Brazil have implications for the global economy and international relations.
As China and Brazil strengthen their ties, they are likely to play a more significant role in shaping the global economic order.
The BRICS grouping, led by China, is expected to continue to promote the interests of developing countries and challenge the dominance of Western-led institutions.
In this context, the phone call between Wang and Vieira highlights the growing cooperation between China and Brazil, and their shared commitment to resisting unilateralism and promoting a more multipolar world order.
As the global economy continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will shape the relationships between major powers and the global trading system.
The strengthening of ties between China and Brazil reflects a strategic move to deepen economic cooperation and reduce dependence on the US dollar.
By signing agreements on trade, agriculture, and technology, both countries aim to boost bilateral trade and investment, leveraging China’s vast market and Brazil’s rich natural resources.
This partnership could potentially create new opportunities for economic growth and development in both nations.
The growing alliance between China and Brazil can be seen as a challenge to US influence in the region.
As the US and China engage in trade tensions, Brazil’s move to strengthen ties with China may signal a shift in the global economic landscape.
This partnership could potentially alter the balance of power, allowing China to expand its economic and political influence in South America, while the US may need to reassess its own relationships with regional partners.