As U.S. trade tensions mount, China is strengthening its grip on Latin America. At the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, leaders from across the region gathered, with many deepening their commitment to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. With two-thirds of Latin American countries already on board, China has become the top trading partner for major economies like Brazil and Peru. Meanwhile, Trump's tariff threats and warnings over the Panama Canal have driven mistrust. China now positions itself as the reliable partner Latin America can count on.