China's Natural Resource Appetite in Brazil

Abstract

This essay deals with the many connections between Brazil and China, as it examines the fundamental drivers of this accretive friendship. Brazil, like China, is a rapidly growing economic giant with a large resource base. Brazil has experienced an average growth of 7 per cent and China of 10 per cent. These growth rates require large amounts of energy sources, natural resources and raw materials. Both countries are positioned to benefit from increased rapprochement: China needs Brazil to supplement its rising commodities needs, and Brazil needs China to finance its industrial and manufacturing investments. Today, China is Brazil’s leading trade partner, replacing the United States and emerging as a viable ally at a time of waning hegemonic control. As large oil deposits lie 150 miles off the Brazilian coast, China is attentive to Brazil’s wishes, as well as to its desires to rightly develop the trillion dollar oil boom that is currently taking place.