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Brazil

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Brazil. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Brasília

Head of State

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Head of Government

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left), seen here with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Brazil, in November, 2024. The pair have agreed to accelerate negotiations for a trade agreement between China and Mercosur. Photo: Xinhua

China-Latin America relations

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump tariffs, as years of resistance end

Xi and Lula agree to fast track Mercosur trade talks, endorsing a deal Brasilia fought to bury when Uruguay first proposed it.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Trump, tariffs and ties with China at stake in Brazilian presidential race

28 Jul 2026 - 12:57AM

Japan

Japan courts India, Malaysia to escape US-China AI duopoly

25 Jul 2026 - 1:07PM

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s TDC to open Egypt office as it eyes African, Nordic markets

Trade Development Council has revamped corporate structure to better help firms in six new industry clusters, chairman Frederick Ma says.

24 Jul 2026 - 11:11PM

A view of the Pyramids of Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Photo: AFP

United States

Outside In | Why Donald Trump may regret reheating his global trade war

Over the coming months, efforts to China-proof supply chains are likely to drive US foreign policy. Success, however, is unlikely to follow.

24 Jul 2026 - 8:49PM

US-China trade war

Trump’s new tariffs, stock market intervention, mega IPOs

This week: Trump levies new tariffs against 60 US trading partners, China’s ‘national team’ investors prop up tumbling stock market, and Bessent threatens sanctions against Chinese AI developers. Next week: CXMT debuts in Shanghai followed by Zhongji Innolight in Hong Kong after blockbuster IPOs, China’s Politburo likely to discuss economy, ChinaJoy draws gamers in Shanghai, and more.

24 Jul 2026 - 5:01PM

US-China trade war

Liberation Day 2.0? US slaps fresh wave of tariffs on China, 50-plus economies

‘Forced labour’ duties replace Trump administration’s original sweeping levies but are unlikely to generate the same level of global shock.

25 Jul 2026 - 6:38AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, before the administration’s tariff announcement. Photo: AP

China-Latin America relations

China vows to defend Brazil’s sovereignty as Trump’s 25% tariff bites

Wang Yi tells Brazilian foreign minister Beijing backs Brazil’s sovereignty, and asks for support on ‘China’s own core interests’ in return.

24 Jul 2026 - 4:53AMvideocam

Greece

Greece to build ‘Achilles Shield’ defence dome with Israeli arms

The move is part of a US$4.8 billion spending spree that includes the purchase of Heron drones, Apache missiles and Victa stealth watercraft.

24 Jul 2026 - 1:03AM

Volleyball

Italy and Brazil sweep into last 4 of Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals

Defending champions and team from South America brush aside Netherlands and Japan, and will face each other for place in title clash.

23 Jul 2026 - 12:21AM

Defending champions Italy eased into the semi-finals of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League with a 3-0 win over the Netherlands in Macau. Photo: WVBNL

Ukraine war

Opinion | Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine shows the impotence of nuclear weapons

Having the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal has not helped Russia on the battlefield.

22 Jul 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Bonds

China vows to improve panda bond ratings to lure more foreign capital

Body overseeing interbank market, where most panda bonds are traded, sets August 1 deadline for rating agencies to comply.

22 Jul 2026 - 5:00PM

Indonesia

Indonesia’s AI ambitions test US-China balancing act

Analysts warn joining the new body could limit Indonesia’s access to US-made AI models and proprietary technology.

21 Jul 2026 - 6:41PMvideocam

Electric & new energy vehicles

As BYD marks Brazil milestone, Europe weighs response to surge in Chinese EVs

BYD hits 100,000 EVs in South American country, but calls grow in Europe for higher tariffs on Chinese products to shield local industry.

21 Jul 2026 - 3:00PM

Workers check vehicles in BYD’s plant in Camacari, Brazil, on February 3, 2026. Photo: Reuters

China-Latin America relations

Brazil widens lead over US in China’s soybean market despite Trump-Xi deal

China’s Brazilian soybean imports up 13.7 per cent in June compared to a year earlier; US figures fell 20.6 per cent over the same period.

21 Jul 2026 - 6:04AMvideocam

Imported soybeans from Brazil are seen in a cargo vessel at a port in Yantai, China. China’s Brazilian soybean imports are up by 13.7 per cent in June compared to a year earlier. Photo: AFP

United States

Rubio says 25% US tariffs on some Brazilian goods price for Lula’s ‘ego’

Brazil denounced the levies, saying ‘there’s no justification for unilateral measures against our country’.

16 Jul 2026 - 1:54PMvideocam

Law

Legal Tales | Everything you never wanted to know about hosting the World Cup

Why lawyers have to keep their eye on the ball when nations become eager to host the next Fifa World Cup.

16 Jul 2026 - 9:30AM

Cathay Pacific

Cathay to add 4 Latin American destinations via Madrid code-share with Iberia

Passengers will be able to travel to Fortaleza and Recife in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina and the Dominican Republic under arrangement.

15 Jul 2026 - 8:17PM

Cathay passengers will have four more destinations to choose from. Photo: Elson Li

Russia

Russia’s diesel export ban deals new shock to strained energy market

The move sparked price spikes in Europe and the US, threatening agriculture, power and transport amid tightening supply.

11 Jul 2026 - 10:31AMvideocam

US-China trade war

Is China’s biggest daily US soybean order confirmation of Xi-Trump summit pact?

The 472,000 tonnes sold were the most in a single day since November and a ‘positive signal’ of Beijing’s intentions, analysts said.

9 Jul 2026 - 2:56PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

A year into Trump’s tariffs, Brazil trades less with US and more with China

Trading report lands as USTR weighs extra 25 per cent levy and Flavio Bolsonaro tells hearing that Lula ‘licks China’s boots’.

9 Jul 2026 - 6:21AMvideocam

A worker washes coffee beans at a plantation near Pocos de Caldas, Brazil. Brazilian coffee exporters now sell most of their produce to Europe. Photo: AP

Brics

Opinion | What the Iran war has revealed about Brics+

Those arguing that the conflict has exposed the grouping as a failure misunderstand its role.

9 Jul 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (second left) speaks during a plenary session of the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 7, 2025. Photo: AFP

Malaysia

Johor votes on Saturday. Polymarket has already called it

As the Malaysian state heads to the polls, a prediction market banned elsewhere in Asia gives one coalition a 93 per cent chance of winning.

9 Jul 2026 - 2:03PM

Artificial intelligence

World working together ‘as one ecosystem’ on RISC-V chip research: executive

Alibaba vice-president Qi Xiaoning says global tech firms continue to build a unified, open-standard ecosystem amid rising geopolitical barriers.

7 Jul 2026 - 10:03PM

US-China relations

America’s first sphere of influence becomes the test of its power at 250

Two centuries after the Monroe Doctrine, China is testing US influence in the hemisphere where it first projected power.

3 Jul 2026 - 11:03PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Conor Kennedy, Taylor Swift’s ex whose wedding could top her nuptials

The son of RFK Jr tied the knot with singer Giulia Be in March – their 3-day celebrations will be held against Brazil’s iconic Christ the Redeemer landmark.

3 Jul 2026 - 6:00AM

Conor Kennedy and Taylor Swift dated briefly in 2012. Photos: Getty Images, TNS

China-Latin America relations

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

2 Jul 2026 - 10:30PM

Japan

Japan’s detention system under scrutiny after ruling on abuse of restraints

A court order to compensate the family of a detainee shows reforms to immigration centres are urgently needed, observers say.

2 Jul 2026 - 4:22PM

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Brazil

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump tariffs, as years of resistance end

Xi and Lula agree to fast track Mercosur trade talks, endorsing a deal Brasilia fought to bury when Uruguay first proposed it.

Trump, tariffs and ties with China at stake in Brazilian presidential race

Japan courts India, Malaysia to escape US-China AI duopoly

Hong Kong’s TDC to open Egypt office as it eyes African, Nordic markets

Trade Development Council has revamped corporate structure to better help firms in six new industry clusters, chairman Frederick Ma says.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Outside In | Why Donald Trump may regret reheating his global trade war

Over the coming months, efforts to China-proof supply chains are likely to drive US foreign policy. Success, however, is unlikely to follow.

Trump’s new tariffs, stock market intervention, mega IPOs

Liberation Day 2.0? US slaps fresh wave of tariffs on China, 50-plus economies

‘Forced labour’ duties replace Trump administration’s original sweeping levies but are unlikely to generate the same level of global shock.

China vows to defend Brazil’s sovereignty as Trump’s 25% tariff bites

Wang Yi tells Brazilian foreign minister Beijing backs Brazil’s sovereignty, and asks for support on ‘China’s own core interests’ in return.

Greece to build ‘Achilles Shield’ defence dome with Israeli arms

The move is part of a US$4.8 billion spending spree that includes the purchase of Heron drones, Apache missiles and Victa stealth watercraft.

Italy and Brazil sweep into last 4 of Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals

Defending champions and team from South America brush aside Netherlands and Japan, and will face each other for place in title clash.

Opinion | Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine shows the impotence of nuclear weapons

Having the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal has not helped Russia on the battlefield.

China vows to improve panda bond ratings to lure more foreign capital

Body overseeing interbank market, where most panda bonds are traded, sets August 1 deadline for rating agencies to comply.

Indonesia’s AI ambitions test US-China balancing act

Analysts warn joining the new body could limit Indonesia’s access to US-made AI models and proprietary technology.

As BYD marks Brazil milestone, Europe weighs response to surge in Chinese EVs

BYD hits 100,000 EVs in South American country, but calls grow in Europe for higher tariffs on Chinese products to shield local industry.

Brazil widens lead over US in China’s soybean market despite Trump-Xi deal

China’s Brazilian soybean imports up 13.7 per cent in June compared to a year earlier; US figures fell 20.6 per cent over the same period.

Rubio says 25% US tariffs on some Brazilian goods price for Lula’s ‘ego’

Brazil denounced the levies, saying ‘there’s no justification for unilateral measures against our country’.

Legal Tales | Everything you never wanted to know about hosting the World Cup

Why lawyers have to keep their eye on the ball when nations become eager to host the next Fifa World Cup.

Cathay to add 4 Latin American destinations via Madrid code-share with Iberia

Passengers will be able to travel to Fortaleza and Recife in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina and the Dominican Republic under arrangement.

Russia’s diesel export ban deals new shock to strained energy market

The move sparked price spikes in Europe and the US, threatening agriculture, power and transport amid tightening supply.

Is China’s biggest daily US soybean order confirmation of Xi-Trump summit pact?

The 472,000 tonnes sold were the most in a single day since November and a ‘positive signal’ of Beijing’s intentions, analysts said.

A year into Trump’s tariffs, Brazil trades less with US and more with China

Trading report lands as USTR weighs extra 25 per cent levy and Flavio Bolsonaro tells hearing that Lula ‘licks China’s boots’.

Opinion | What the Iran war has revealed about Brics+

Those arguing that the conflict has exposed the grouping as a failure misunderstand its role.

Johor votes on Saturday. Polymarket has already called it

As the Malaysian state heads to the polls, a prediction market banned elsewhere in Asia gives one coalition a 93 per cent chance of winning.

World working together ‘as one ecosystem’ on RISC-V chip research: executive

Alibaba vice-president Qi Xiaoning says global tech firms continue to build a unified, open-standard ecosystem amid rising geopolitical barriers.

America’s first sphere of influence becomes the test of its power at 250

Two centuries after the Monroe Doctrine, China is testing US influence in the hemisphere where it first projected power.

Meet Conor Kennedy, Taylor Swift’s ex whose wedding could top her nuptials

The son of RFK Jr tied the knot with singer Giulia Be in March – their 3-day celebrations will be held against Brazil’s iconic Christ the Redeemer landmark.

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

Japan’s detention system under scrutiny after ruling on abuse of restraints

A court order to compensate the family of a detainee shows reforms to immigration centres are urgently needed, observers say.

Outside In | Why Donald Trump may regret reheating his global trade war