china latin america task force march june 2006 the activities were assisted financially by bureau of educational and cultural affairs united states department state growing economic presence in claudio m loser visiting senior fellow inter american dialogue this paper expands on remarks delivered at first session december 15 for many years maintained sustained but modest links recent a increasingly integrated has had significant impact region emerging relationship between however cuts two ways some countries such as cuba to lesser extent venezuela it is primarily political with advantages whether terms oil exports or cheap chinese imports also advantageous s principal south exporters raw materials namely argentina brazil chile peru others mexico central caribbean particular mixed blessing because perceives risk losing its competitive advantage us other