Montevideo, 28 March (H.S.):

The United States is relentlessly pressuring Uruguay to end its trade relationship with China, Economy and Finance Minister Gabriel Oddone revealed in a private meeting on Saturday, calling the campaign unimaginable and intolerable.

Oddone told business leaders the demands come daily through various channels, warning that failure to comply could further sour ties with the Trump administration. With a population of about 3.5 million, Uruguay has relied on China as its top trading partner for the past 14 years, shipping roughly 26 percent of its total exports there – mainly beef, soybeans, and cellulose.

This disclosure lands as US-China rivalry intensifies, hitting nations like Uruguay that trade heavily with both powers. Domestically, the economy faces headwinds: GDP grew just 1.8 percent last year, missing the 2.6 percent official target, with 2026 forecasts now trimmed to around 1.6 percent.

Defending his government's approach despite the strains, Oddone insisted Uruguay won't cheapen its currency for competitiveness. Instead, it will pursue microeconomic reforms, cost reductions, and streamlined foreign trade – all while navigating the growing bind between economic imperatives and superpower politics for smaller players like Uruguay.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar