The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman has warned Secretary of State about Chinese influence in a major Argentine contract bid, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The April 23 letter concerns a 25-year contract to dredge the Parana River, Argentina's key waterway for agricultural exports, with an estimated $10 billion investment.
Chairman Brian Mast alleged China is trying to bypass a ban on state-owned firms via a private proxy, citing Belgian dredging firm Jan De Nul's links to Chinese entities.
Jan De Nul, which has managed the waterway for decades, competes against Deme Group. The Trump administration, allied with Argentina's President Milei, is concerned about Chinese influence in Latin America.
The letter warns the contract award to Jan De Nul would be "unacceptable and damaging" to national security. Companies deny the allegations, calling them a "malicious fallacy."
Argentina's port agency praised the process. U.S. lobbying efforts have involved senior Argentine officials.
