We have selected six of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. Chile exposes smuggling ring that shipped US$917m in stolen copper to China

Photo: AFP

Chinese buyers were the end destination of a five-year smuggling pipeline that drained an estimated US$917 million worth of stolen copper from Chile, authorities said in April after police dismantled the network in one of the largest organised crime operations ever uncovered in the country.

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2. China, Russia rally behind Cuba as US squeezes Havana in deepening crisis

Photo: EPA

China and Russia expressed support for Cuba’s embattled government amid mounting pressure from the United States, as Moscow’s deputy foreign minister concluded a visit to Havana and Beijing signalled its willingness to step up diplomatic backing for the island.

Read the full story here.

3. Brazil blacklists China EV giant BYD for its slave labour conditions

Photo: Reuters

Brazil’s labour ministry added Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD to a registry of employers found to have subjected workers to conditions analogous to slavery, limiting access to state financing and increasing reputational risks in its most important market outside China.