Latin America’s recent commodity boom accentuated environmental degradation and social conflict across the Americas. The Latin American commodity boom was largely driven by new trade and investment with China, and concentrated in the petroleum, mineral extraction, and agricultural sectors — sectors endemic to environmental degradation and often the source of social conflict over rights and working conditions... as China ‘goes global’ it is important to mitigate the social and environmental impacts of its global activities in order to maintain good relations with host countries and to reduce the potential risks associated with overseas investment. Although some Chinese firms have demonstrated an ability to adhere to best practices in the social and environmental arena, by and large and Chinese firms operating in Latin America thus far lack the experience or policies in place to lessen the impacts of their investments in the region... It is in the interests of the Latin American and Chinese governments, as well as Chinese firms, to put in place the proper social and environmental policies in order to maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks of China’s economic activity in Latin America...

[This Report refers to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Jungie Mining, Soy and Iron exports, Solar panels imports, Sinochem, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Golden Dragon Affiliates, Shougang, Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco), and Zijin Mining Group.]