Latin America

Losses from anime piracy in Brazil alone come to an estimated 200 billion yen a year. (Photo by Akinobu Iwasawa, retouched for copy right reasons)
Media & Entertainment

Japan anime web pirates shut down by Brazil authorities

First-of-its-kind probe targets illegal operations that cost industry billions of dollars

21 April 2023
A Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid SUV, one of the models that may be newly assembled in Brazil. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Automobiles

Toyota to invest $334m to make compact biofuel hybrids in Brazil

Carmaker seeks to provide consumers with cheaper, eco-friendly vehicles

20 April 2023
Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez, center, visited Taiwan in February.
International relations

Paraguay's Taiwan ties at stake in presidential election

Another diplomatic domino at risk for Taipei as challenger eyes switch to China

18 April 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on his first visit to China since taking office in January. Lula has called for China, Brazil and other BRICS members to move away from relying on the U.S. dollar for trade.
International relations

Xi meets Brazil's Lula amid calls to shake up Western-led order

South American nation signs deals with biggest trading partner China

15 April 2023
Workers for China Southern Power Grid inspect power cables in Dongguan, Guangdong province. The company sees South American countries including Chile and Peru as strong growth markets for power grid infrastructure.
Caixin

China utility powers up South America presence with Peru purchase

China Southern Power Grid agrees to pay $2.9bn to Italy's biggest utility

12 April 2023
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is prioritizing cooperation with other emerging economies, such as China.
International relations

Brazil's Lula departs for China, seeking deeper economic ties

Trip to meet with Xi includes anticipated new investments and business deals

12 April 2023
A food market in Brazil. Credit Saison hopes to tap demand for loans among individuals and small businesses in Latin America, where accessing funding has been difficult.
Finance

Japan's Credit Saison to launch financing business in Latin America

Tie-ups with fintech companies to help individuals and small businesses get loans

11 April 2023
Lithium can be extracted from brine in salt flats.
Materials

Sumitomo Metal to produce lithium with rapid-extraction tech

Joint investments eyed in Argentina and Chile for crucial battery material

11 April 2023
Embraer's E195-E2 aircraft is undergoing the certification process in China.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Embraer sets sights on China and India with latest jets

Brazilian aircraft maker focuses on Asia-Pacific, seeking 100 deliveries in 2025

5 April 2023
Belize Prime Minister John Briceno and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen sign a technical cooperation agreement during Tsai's visit on April 3. (Handout photo from the Office of Belize's Prime Minister via Reuters)
Taiwan tensions

Tsai races against diplomatic domino effect in Latin America

Taiwan moves to shore up Belize, Guatemala ties after Honduras sides with China

5 April 2023
In this image taken from video footage run by China's CCTV, Honduras' Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina Garcia, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands after a signing ceremony in Beijing on March 26.
Taiwan tensions

Honduras wanted 'billions of dollars' to maintain ties, Taiwan says

China establishes diplomatic relations with the Central American country

26 March 2023
Honduran President Xiomara Castro addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 20, 2022. She previously proposed switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China.
International relations

Honduras to cut ties with Taiwan in turn toward China

Castro says decision is 'sign of my determination to fulfill the government plan'

15 March 2023
Bolivian state-owned company YLB's operation at Salar de Uyuni, a vast white salt flat at the center of a global resource race for lithium.
Caixin

Why Chinese lithium companies are targeting Bolivia

South American nation's prized resource will help feed China's EV battery needs

2 March 2023
Xi Jinping makes a toast during a welcome banquet for the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in May 2017: The Chinese leader sold the BRI as a pathway to prosperity for developing nations.
Opinion

'Made in China' infrastructure is often a glorified money pit

Construction flaws have left many Belt and Road projects unusable

9 February 2023
Terumo's new factory in Costa Rica makes tubing kits used for cardiovascular surgeries. (Photo courtesy of Terumo)
Health Care

In Latin America, Japanese medical firms find wealth of benefits

Low labor and shipping costs, green energy draw Terumo, Nipro and others

5 February 2023
Kochi Fighting Dogs staff meet Brazilian baseball instructors in the state of Sao Paulo on their latest trip to South America. (Photo by Hidetake Miyamoto)
Sports

Japan baseball team takes grassroots swing at South America

Kochi Fighting Dogs offer clinics, pathway for new generation of players abroad

4 February 2023
Tesla is reportedly in talks to build electric vehicle factories in Mexico and Indonesia. 
Interview

Tesla, Mexico in talks on new Gigafactory but no deal yet: state official

Nuevo Leon builds special lane for the EV maker for quick shipments to U.S.

27 January 2023
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso, seen here in Quito during 2022, touted the trade deal reached with China on Jan. 3.
Trade

Ecuador reaches trade deal with China, president says

Pact expected to boost South American country's exports by $1bn

4 January 2023
Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, preparing to inherit a long list of domestic and international challenges, attends a news conference in Brasilia on Dec. 9.
Politics

What Lula's return in Brazil means for Asia

Champion of BRICS and Global South faces new risks and opportunities

30 December 2022
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring in a penalty shootout in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 10.
Sports

World Cup: Argentina tops Netherlands on penalties, clinches semifinals

4-3 shootout win leads Latin American nation to face Croatia

10 December 2022
Croatia's Dominik Livakovic celebrates qualifying for the semifinals as Brazil's Marquinhos looks dejected after missing a penalty in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 9.
Sports

World Cup: Croatia ousts Brazil on penalties to reach semifinals

4-2 on penalties followed 1-1 draw over 120 minutes

10 December 2022
Uruguay aims to increase exports of beef and other farm products to Asian markets.
Trade

Uruguay applies to join CPTPP in bid for Asian export boost

South American nation also seeking free trade deal with China

2 December 2022
Braskem can produce polyethylene from plant matter at a facility in Brazil. (Photo courtesy of Braskem)
Materials

Brazil's Braskem weighs 100% plant-based plastic production in Japan

Exclusive: Facility would replace oil-based material for utensils and single-use bags

29 November 2022
Vale Indonesia is working on three nickel projects worth $8.6 billion. (Photo courtesy of PT Vale) 
Commodities

Vale Indonesia embarks on $8.6bn nickel projects with Chinese firms

Miner expresses hopes on partnership with Ford Motor for EV battery materials

14 September 2022
The dollar's nominal effective exchange rate against a broad basket of currencies, including from both advanced and emerging economies, is now at one of its highest points since it started publicizing the data in 1994. 
Currencies

Superstrong dollar threatens debt crisis across emerging economies

Mexico pressured to follow Fed hikes, while Sri Lanka's repayment costs soar

2 September 2022