Free Trade Deal In The Works With China
Source: South China Morning Post
November 14 2022
El Salvador says it has begun negotiations for a free trade agreement with China, reports the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).
On Nov. 9, President Nayib Bukele announced that El Salvador would sign a free trade agreement with China following talks with Chinese Amb. Ou Jianhong.
The following day, the Chinese Commerce Ministry confirmed the plans, saying talks on the deal would begin “as soon as possible.”
El Salvador established diplomatic ties with China in 2018 after withdrawing formal recognition from Taiwan.
Beijing has free trade agreements with Chile, Peru and Costa Rica, and is in talks with five other Latin American countries. Analysts say that such pacts could increase Chinese influence in the region, a traditional U.S. stronghold.