US House chair warns of China proxy in Argentina river bid
US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about potential Chinese influence in a $10 billion contract to dredge and operate Argentina's Parana River. The April 23 letter, seen by Reuters, alleges that Belgian firm Jan De Nul, which has managed the waterway for decades, maintains ties to Chinese state-owned entities through Argentine partner Servimagnus. The tender explicitly bars state-owned companies, but Mast claims China is using a private sector proxy. Jan De Nul leads in the bid's point-score system against Deme Group's consortium including KKR & Co and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation. A decision is expected soon. The Trump administration, allied with Argentina's President Javier Milei, has raised concerns over Chinese influence in Latin America; China was Argentina's second-largest trading partner in March.
Key facts
- Brian Mast sent letter to Marco Rubio on April 23
- Contract is for 25-year dredging and operation of Parana River
- Estimated investment is US$10 billion
- Tender bars state-owned companies
- Jan De Nul is Belgian dredging company
- Servimagnus is Argentine firm in Jan De Nul's consortium
- Deme Group consortium includes KKR & Co and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation
- Jan De Nul leads in point-score system
Entities
Institutions
- US House Foreign Affairs Committee
- US Department of State
- Jan De Nul
- Servimagnus
- Deme Group
- KKR & Co
- Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation
- Reuters
Locations
- United States
- Argentina
- Parana River
- Belgium
- China
- Beijing
- Latin America