Trump Opens Doors for China in Latin America

Since November 8, free traders around the world have been in a lather, not least in Latin America. After all, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump had stumped to scrap regional trade deals, build a wall on the border with Mexico and deport undocumented immigrants, up to 3 million of them right away. “Trump’s election is an unmitigated disaster for the region,” commented Jorge Castaneda, a former Mexican foreign minister.

But Latin America has an escape valve: China. And as pundits and economists gauge the words out of Washington, indications are that the region’s pivot toward Asia is about to become even more acute. “As the U.S. takes a step back from Latin America, China continues to bound ahead,” said Boston University professor Kevin Gallagher, who has tracked Chinese interests in the Americas. “This is an opportunity and could actually help the region’s bargaining power.”