Tariff war drives Chinese businesses to Brazil
發佈日期: 2025-07-09 21:08
TVB News
Amid the tariff wars, Hong Kong businesses have been urged to explore Latin American markets.
Being the region's largest economy, Brazil has witnessed growing Chinese investment.
18,000 kilometres away from Hong Kong, Brazil has no direct flights to the SAR, meaning it takes at least 30 hours to travel between the two places.
Rich in iron ore and biofuels, the South American behemoth faces only 10 percent U.S. tariffs which in turn wooed some Chinese merchants to seek opportunities in this emerging market.
A Rio de Janeiro travel agency receives Chinese business delegations almost every week.
Estrela Wang, head of the travel agency, said the delegates hail from different sectors, from mobile screen manufacturers to the beauty industry and sellers of farm machinery.
Brazil is often called the granary of the world due to its significant role in global food production, including meat, soybeans and fruit sold in Hong Kong.
F&B group chairman Simon Wong, who has imported Brazilian coffee beans for years, noted the China-built "Twin-Ocean Railway" linking Brazil to Peru's Port of Chancay may cut shipping time between Hong Kong and Brazil from 45 to 25 days.
Wong said that also trims logistics costs by a quarter.
President of the China-Brazil Exchange Association Wu Zhaoxiao moved from Zhejiang to Brazil more than two decades ago and has worked in retail and wholesale businesses.
He said Chinese here succeed through hard work but Brazilians now toil as hard which also accelerates market growth.
Hong Kong native Marcos Ma relocated to Brazil some 50 years ago.
He said Brazilians are optimistic and friendly. Beer, barbecue and beaches are enough to bring them joy. But he noted Brazil's strict labour laws mean higher litigation risks for employers.
Another challenge: Frequent violence which has worsened post-pandemic. While Chinese residents in Rio and Sao Paulo say nearly all merchants have been robbed before, some locals argue such security woes are exaggerated.
