The China-Global South Podcast How China is Displacing U.S. Economic Power in Latin America
20 snips
Oct 5, 2025 Francisco Urdinez, an expert on China–Latin America relations and assistant professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, discusses China's growing dominance in Latin America as the U.S. retreats. He describes how this shift creates new economic opportunities for the region while exploring China's strategic investments, such as the Chancay Port in Peru. Urdinez also highlights the impact of local actors in attracting Chinese capital and analyzes how public opinion and upcoming elections in Latin America shape views on China and the U.S.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Two Different Hemispheres Of Influence
- Latin America now looks like two regions: Mexico/Central America versus South America with regard to U.S. vs China influence.
- China is displacing U.S. economic weight mainly in South America while the U.S. remains dominant with Mexico and parts of Central America.
Displacement Is Driven By U.S. Retrenchment
- U.S. economic weight in the region has shrunk roughly by half since 2000 while China's weight rose from a low baseline.
- The retrenchment of U.S. engagement matters as much as China's active gains.
How Chancay Port Grew From Local Demand
- The Chancay port in Peru began as a local mining firm idea and private deals before Chinese firms and COSCO joined.
- Chinese banks, insurers, and COSCO later financed and integrated the project, then governments framed it strategically.
