Fernando Menéndez
Economist and China-Latin America observer
Dec 31, 2024
Trump's proposed tariffs on Chinese imports serve his nationalist base but ultimately act as a deceptive "shell game," shifting costs to American consumers and producers. While some industries may benefit short-term, the broader economy and middle-class Americans will ultimately bear the long-term consequences.
Jan 08, 2024
American protectionist economic policy and reduced Chinese imports in the United States has led to the phenomenon of “nearshoring.” Mexico has benefitted from this, having received higher foreign direct investment, particularly from China.
Oct 03, 2023
China's economic growth has slowed while American politicians continue to advocate for protectionism, which is concerning as history shows that free markets are key to prosperity. China's struggles underscore the need for more economic freedom, not less.
Nov 15, 2019
Latin America has been a primary recipient of Chinese foreign direct investment for years, but recent developments in the global political environment have caused notable shifts to occur in what and how much China is giving to the region.
Apr 16, 2019
Whether China can create an alternative model for economic engagement in Latin America will largely depend on how well it reads history and avoids the worst pitfalls of its predecessors.
Feb 19, 2019
Though China forged a new economic relationship with Venezuela under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, the PRC’s continued presence is almost guaranteed through the need for Venezuelan oil.
Jan 10, 2019
Brazil's new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been described as a South American Donald Trump. Will he turn on China?
Dec 17, 2018
President Xi Jinping’s presence at the recent G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina reaffirmed that China is leading the way in nurturing bilateral trade and investment deals in Latin America.
Mar 02, 2018
American markets dominate the Mexican economy and will continue to do so for many decades, but the combination of China’s growing presence in Mexico and the election of a leftist firebrand to the Mexican presidency could further strain U.S. relationships with both of these countries.
Dec 08, 2017
During China’s President Xi Jinping most recent visit to the Latin American, he announced a renewed commitment to trade and investment throughout the Americas; by some accounts an estimated $250 billion in the next ten years. A project such as the proposed Nicaragua canal has raised critical questions about Chinese investments in Latin America.