Chinese investment in Chile sparks opportunities, concerns

Chinese firm Sinovac’s decision to set up a COVID-19 vaccine plant in Chile is the latest example of growing trade between the two countries. Should the United States be worried?

Santiago, Chile – Two years ago, Chinese moviegoers started eating Chilean blueberries instead of popcorn at the cinema. The treat — called “Blue Pop” and served in small red-and-white-striped boxes — was the brainchild of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, which hoped to make the South American-grown fruit a must-eat in the world’s most populous country. It worked. The Asian market has accounted for 37.8 percent of Chile’s fresh fruit exports during the 2020-21 season to date, according to the Chilean Association of Fruit Exporters (ASOEX). The proportion of Chile’s fresh fruit exports going to Asia has grown 16.4 percent year-over-year, allowing China to surpass the United States as Chile’s top destination for fruit exports.