Reference News Network August 13 report: Germany's Editor website published an article titled "How Trump is Pushing South America Toward China" on August 7. The following is a compilation of the content:

Punitive tariffs, large-scale deportations, and anti-Latino rhetoric are increasingly fueling anger towards the U.S. president in regions south of the Rio Grande River.

The New York Times is focusing on Brazilian President Lula da Silva. Below a portrait of the president taken in a library, the newspaper wrote: "No one can challenge Donald Trump as openly as Lula da Silva." The Brazilian president is currently opposing the White House at least in words. Brasília stated: "Everything can be negotiated, except our sovereignty."

This statement refers to the U.S. imposing punitive tariffs of up to 50% on Brazilian goods. More than half of the goods transported from Brazil to the north are affected by this tariff. However, some products, such as orange juice, which are popular in the United States, are excluded from the tax range.

For Lula, the current developments are a political gift. Because Trump's punitive tariffs and sanctions have helped the Brazilian president emerge from a poll slump, while turning the right-wing forces in Brazil that support Trump into "traitors." One of Trump's defenses is the Brazilian Supreme Court, especially Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is accused of "political persecution" against former right-wing populist president Jair Bolsonaro. The Bolsonaro camp now has to justify the tariffs in front of their own people. This is clearly an unpopular position.

However, the biggest winner is someone else. China can act smoothly in Brazil and throughout South America, and will further strengthen its influence over this continent.

China is implementing a long-term strategy in South America. One key move is the construction of the giant Chancay Port in Peru to reorganize trade flows across the Pacific. While the United States is busy imposing punitive tariffs, China is investing in South American infrastructure. In Brazil, this is more popular than Washington's punitive tariffs.

Brazilian political scientist Maurício Santoro, who has studied Sino-Brazilian relations, believes, "The region has become a hub of the world economy. Brazil's foreign trade also follows this trend. In 2024, Brazil's trade with Asian countries exceeded 240 billion U.S. dollars. Asia is the destination for about 43% of Brazil's exported goods."

Lula said in early July that Asia is "the center of vitality of the world economy," and called on the Southern Common Market, a South American trade alliance, to pay more attention to Asia in the future: "Getting closer to Japan, China, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia will benefit our participation in global value chains." In response to the U.S. tariffs, China has granted licenses to nearly 200 Brazilian coffee exporters to enter the Chinese market.

Regarding the Bolsonaro case, the positions of Brazil and the United States so far seem quite firm. Although the Brazilian government is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, it does not want to give up its judicial system. Currently, Bolsonaro is under house arrest and cannot contact his supporters anymore. Bolsonaro's supporters have taken to the streets to protest, while the Lula government believes its actions are correct. It is still unclear what kind of agreement may be reached between Brazil and the United States. (Translated by Song Yuhao)

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7537902268483142187/

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