The China Signal - November 24

Brazilian beef restrictions ease, Alibaba expands logistics partnership with Atlas Air, Dominica signs a visa waiver agreement

G’day, and welcome to The China Signal. I’m sending out a much shorter edition earlier than usual this week, given that it’s Thanksgiving this Thursday in the United States, a holiday that I’m happy to adopt. This week, Beijing eases its import restrictions on some Brazilian beef; Alibaba grows its freight partnership with Atlas Air in response to growing trade between China and Latin America; Dominica and China sign a visa waiver agreement; and Huawei donates mobile internet boxes to the Guyanese government as part of their Covid diplomacy. Read on.

Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. readers.

Agriculture

Brazil 🇧🇷

China's customs authorities said on Tuesday they will accept import applications for Brazilian beef that has been granted a sanitary certificate prior to Sept. 4, potentially allowing for cargoes of beef stuck at Chinese ports to finally clear customs.

The beef embargo began in September. Brazil’s beef industry is hurting, with a Brazilian industry group reporting a 43% reduction in beef exports in October, compared to one year prior. For further background, refer to TCS November 12, and TCS October 28

Trade

Broader Latin America 🏔🏝

Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, has expanded its partnership with airline operator Atlas Air to cater for the increase in cross-border trade between China and Latin America (LatAm).

Under the expanded agreement, Atlas will now run daily chartered LatAm flights and has added an additional B747-400F to fly between Hong Kong, China and Santiago, Chile. This brings the total dedicated fleet that Atlas operates for Cainiao to five aircraft.

The daily flights have increased Cainiao’s weekly cargo volume from China to LatAm by 144% compared with October 2021, when there were only three chartered flights per week.

According to Cainiao, the number of parcels shipped to Brazil in September 2021 increased by 200% compared with the same month last year. In response to the robust growth, Cainiao rolled out its ‘12-day delivery service’ in Brazil’s core metropolitan areas. In addition, Cainiao also plans to establish a distribution center in Brazil to offer next-day or even same-day delivery in partnership with local delivery firms.

Diplomacy

Dominica 🇩🇲

Dominica and China sign visa-waiver agreement - Dominica News Online - November 22, 2021

Via a press release from Dominica’s Office of the Prime Minister.

The Commonwealth of Dominica and the People’s of Republic of China signed an agreement for visa-free travel between the two countries on Monday 22.

Prime Minister of Dominica, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit and His Excellency Lin Xianjiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Commonwealth of Dominica, signed the new protocols, which apply to Dominica passport-holders of all categories.

The visa-free agreement takes immediate effect.

Some pretty weighty comments from Prime Minister Skerrit:

“These bilateral relations are entrenched in our recognition that there is but one China. And as we have said many times, Dominica will assist, where it can, in the peaceful reunification of China,” Mr. Skerrit commented.

Dominica and China formally established diplomatic relations in March 2004.

Telecommunications

Guyana 🇬🇾

PM receives 1,000 Internet boxes from Huawei - Guyana Chronicle - November 23, 2021

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips on Monday received 1,000 Internet boxes (LTE/Wifi CPE) from several representatives of Chinese multinational technology corporation, Huawei.
The boxes are capable of transferring 4G networks outdoors at over 300 metres and just below 100 metres indoors to more than 100 users at a time.

The Prime Minister said the donation will assist his government in its aim to bridge the digital divide by providing access to ICT throughout the country.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Huawei’s Caribbean Office, Jin Zhefeng, said the gesture is a part of the company’s COVID-19 support measures since the pandemic has accelerated the need for technological advancement.