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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-made MG cars await loading for export at Lianyungang Port, Jiangsu province, on August 4. Photo: AFP

China manufacturing

Scholar rebuts claims state subsidies caused China’s industrial overcapacity

In People’s Daily commentary piece, Cui Fan says ‘reasonable industrial subsidies … are a globally recognised and legitimate policy tool’.

11 Aug 2026 - 4:19PM

India

Can India and China rally Brics to ease Strait of Hormuz tensions?

11 Aug 2026 - 6:29PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

China moves to join Brazil’s WTO fight over Trump’s forced labour tariffs

11 Aug 2026 - 6:05AMvideocam

Science

US and Israeli physicists hail China’s glueball discovery as a ‘triumph’

Global experts praise team for solving 50-year-old puzzle, while Chinese social media buzzes with Nobel Prize predictions.

9 Aug 2026 - 6:58PMvideocam

The Beijing Spectrometer III particle detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider in Beijing, where researchers have found the strongest evidence yet for the long-sought glueball. Photo: Handout

Science

What is a glueball? Chinese-led team finds rare particle made entirely of force

After 15 years of research, scientists discover definitive evidence of glueballs using the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II.

8 Aug 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

UnionPay to link Chinese payment apps to Brazil’s Pix after US tariffs

Central banks stay silent on pilot that would let tourists scan and pay weeks after Washington taxed the system.

8 Aug 2026 - 4:41AMvideocam

US-China relations

In Focus | Race for UN top job enters final stage: choice may ‘make or break’ bloc

A strong, visionary leader is needed as next secretary general as Iran war rages during one of most ‘unpredictable times geopolitically’.

7 Aug 2026 - 11:07PMvideocam

China trade

Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration

Both Beijing and its economic partners must ask whether expanding trade strengthens domestic productive capacity and improves long-term competitiveness.

7 Aug 2026 - 5:17PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Brazil to become regular borrower in China, treasury official says

Brasilia cannot guarantee debut will happen this year, but wants it repeated to give companies a yuan benchmark to aim for.

6 Aug 2026 - 2:34AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

BYD’s first humanoid robots; world’s biggest buyer of Chinese cars: 7 EV reads

From a Chinese vessel logging a record shipment to BYD’s humanoid robots debut, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

5 Aug 2026 - 2:30PM

Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice-president, at a press conference before the start of the International Motor Show (IAA Mobility) in Munich on September 8, 2025. In June, Li said the company had invested in humanoid robots. Photo: DPA

From our archives

On This Day | ‘Stunning spectacle’: Rio Olympics kicks off in Brazil in 2016 – SCMP archive

The Summer Olympics, held 10 years ago today, were the first Olympic Games ever held in South America.

5 Aug 2026 - 11:30AM

The opening ceremony gave Brazilians a respite from months of bad publicity, a chance to belt out bossa nova and dance the samba as the 17-day party kicked off at the Maracana Stadium with a scaled-down but colourful, high-energy opening ceremony. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

US revokes visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington in escalating row

State Department retaliates against Brasilia over delayed envoy approval as fractious relationship is again tested.

5 Aug 2026 - 10:49AM

China-Latin America relations

Cuban spy-base allegations, new Trump tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From global soybean market updates to China’s best trade partners, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in July 2026.

4 Aug 2026 - 10:00PM

US-China trade war

Strong as steel: Trump tariffs spark a US production increase

US steel production rose 7 per cent year on year through July, with the country rising to be the world’s third-largest producer in 2025.

5 Aug 2026 - 8:35AM

Pacific Steel Group’s Mojave Micro Mill in the US is shown under construction in the California desert. Photo: Handout

Retailing

How global brands are winning in China’s sluggish retail market

The likes of Adidas and L’Oreal are thriving in the evolving market, showcasing strong growth driven by changing consumer demands.

3 Aug 2026 - 5:50PM

Customers sit and drink coffee inside a Starbucks Reserve store in a shopping mall in Shenzhen. Photo: Getty Images

Science

How a Xinjiang weed could cut China’s reliance on Southeast Asian rubber

Dandelion that oozes milky fluid when root is broken poised to help ease country’s import reliance.

3 Aug 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

At 80, Brazil’s Lula launches campaign for fourth term

Leftist icon vows to protect critical minerals from foreign control as election battle against far-right rival looms.

3 Aug 2026 - 2:59PM

US-China relations

Chinese buyers acquire US soybeans for October-November, traders say

The ‌sales volume of at least 840,000 tonnes was among China’s largest single-day purchases this month.

1 Aug 2026 - 5:58AM

Farmer Susan Watkins holds soybean seeds on her farm in Sutherland, Virginia, in April. Photo: Reuters

China trade

Opinion | China’s exports feed the Global South’s industrial engines

Far from stifling development, China’s export portfolio indicates a positive-sum diffusion of industrial growth.

31 Jul 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

United States

US government map of Africa at summit gets every country wrong

Errant slide contained watermark signaling graphic was generated using OpenAI tools during State Department presentation.

31 Jul 2026 - 11:36AM

Natural disasters

5 killed in Brazil, as fierce winds bring chaos to Rio, Sao Paulo region

Gusts of up to 100km/h cut power, fell dozens of trees and brought public transport to a halt, stranding thousands of people.

30 Jul 2026 - 7:59AM

A fallen tree and collapsed utility poles block a residential street after strong wind gusts in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

Brazil is now the world’s biggest buyer of Chinese cars: China customs

Purchases hit US$5.2 billion in five months, pushing the sector’s trade gap to its widest since records began in 1997.

30 Jul 2026 - 5:52AMvideocam

The BYD Dolphin Mini became Brazil’s best-selling retail vehicle in February as imports of Chinese-made cars surged. Photo: BYD

South Korea

How South Korea can ease Brazilian concerns to unlock trade in South America

Money and technology transfer are the keys to opening the door to free trade with Mercosur members, according to analysts.

29 Jul 2026 - 5:00PM

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

Polls show Beijing-friendly incumbent Lula neck and neck with Washington’s favoured candidate ahead of closely watched October election.

28 Jul 2026 - 12:57AM

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left), seen here with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May 2025, is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term as leader of the South American country. Photo: AFP

Japan

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

Fears over foreign software curbs have pushed Tokyo to pitch its own tech to Asian partners and others.

25 Jul 2026 - 1:07PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend an economic forum in New Delhi on July 2. Photo: Kyodo

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

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

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Brazil

Scholar rebuts claims state subsidies caused China’s industrial overcapacity

In People’s Daily commentary piece, Cui Fan says ‘reasonable industrial subsidies … are a globally recognised and legitimate policy tool’.

Can India and China rally Brics to ease Strait of Hormuz tensions?

China moves to join Brazil’s WTO fight over Trump’s forced labour tariffs

US and Israeli physicists hail China’s glueball discovery as a ‘triumph’

Global experts praise team for solving 50-year-old puzzle, while Chinese social media buzzes with Nobel Prize predictions.

What is a glueball? Chinese-led team finds rare particle made entirely of force

After 15 years of research, scientists discover definitive evidence of glueballs using the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II.

UnionPay to link Chinese payment apps to Brazil’s Pix after US tariffs

Central banks stay silent on pilot that would let tourists scan and pay weeks after Washington taxed the system.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}In Focus | Race for UN top job enters final stage: choice may ‘make or break’ bloc

A strong, visionary leader is needed as next secretary general as Iran war rages during one of most ‘unpredictable times geopolitically’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration

Both Beijing and its economic partners must ask whether expanding trade strengthens domestic productive capacity and improves long-term competitiveness.

Brazil to become regular borrower in China, treasury official says

Brasilia cannot guarantee debut will happen this year, but wants it repeated to give companies a yuan benchmark to aim for.

BYD’s first humanoid robots; world’s biggest buyer of Chinese cars: 7 EV reads

From a Chinese vessel logging a record shipment to BYD’s humanoid robots debut, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

On This Day | ‘Stunning spectacle’: Rio Olympics kicks off in Brazil in 2016 – SCMP archive

The Summer Olympics, held 10 years ago today, were the first Olympic Games ever held in South America.

US revokes visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington in escalating row

State Department retaliates against Brasilia over delayed envoy approval as fractious relationship is again tested.

Cuban spy-base allegations, new Trump tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From global soybean market updates to China’s best trade partners, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in July 2026.

Strong as steel: Trump tariffs spark a US production increase

US steel production rose 7 per cent year on year through July, with the country rising to be the world’s third-largest producer in 2025.

How global brands are winning in China’s sluggish retail market

The likes of Adidas and L’Oreal are thriving in the evolving market, showcasing strong growth driven by changing consumer demands.

How a Xinjiang weed could cut China’s reliance on Southeast Asian rubber

Dandelion that oozes milky fluid when root is broken poised to help ease country’s import reliance.

At 80, Brazil’s Lula launches campaign for fourth term

Leftist icon vows to protect critical minerals from foreign control as election battle against far-right rival looms.

Chinese buyers acquire US soybeans for October-November, traders say

The ‌sales volume of at least 840,000 tonnes was among China’s largest single-day purchases this month.

Opinion | China’s exports feed the Global South’s industrial engines

Far from stifling development, China’s export portfolio indicates a positive-sum diffusion of industrial growth.

US government map of Africa at summit gets every country wrong

Errant slide contained watermark signaling graphic was generated using OpenAI tools during State Department presentation.

5 killed in Brazil, as fierce winds bring chaos to Rio, Sao Paulo region

Gusts of up to 100km/h cut power, fell dozens of trees and brought public transport to a halt, stranding thousands of people.

Brazil is now the world’s biggest buyer of Chinese cars: China customs

Purchases hit US$5.2 billion in five months, pushing the sector’s trade gap to its widest since records began in 1997.

How South Korea can ease Brazilian concerns to unlock trade in South America

Money and technology transfer are the keys to opening the door to free trade with Mercosur members, according to analysts.

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

Polls show Beijing-friendly incumbent Lula neck and neck with Washington’s favoured candidate ahead of closely watched October election.

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

Fears over foreign software curbs have pushed Tokyo to pitch its own tech to Asian partners and others.

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.

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.

In Focus | Race for UN top job enters final stage: choice may ‘make or break’ bloc

Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration