Brazilian experts warn of global agribusiness slowdown amid US tariff impact

Brazilian agricultural leaders and economists warned Tuesday that the recent U.S. tariff policy risks depressing global agricultural growth to 1.7 percent, as concerns over trade protectionism dominated a major farming conference in Sao Paulo.

The Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) hosted a seminar, drawing nearly 300 participants, including Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, industry experts, and farmers.

Freitas opened the event by noting that the U.S. measures could slash global agricultural growth to 1.7 percent this year.

[The U.S. tariff policy] impacts the whole world, not just Brazil. It impacts the transportation of goods, including maritime transportation, and impacts the financial system. Therefore, the impacts are much greater than just on exporting goods. Brazilian agriculture will also be indirectly impacted," said Glauco Jose Zamberlan, Director of International Relations for the CNA.

Brazilian economist Elena Landau criticized the tariff policy of the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump as counterproductive.

"The trump administration's tariff policy is difficult to understand. It doesn't make sense even for the administration's governing goals. They want to protect and strengthen the American industry to some extent, but on the contrary, it will take many years for the American industry to recover from the lack of input. There are problems such as disruption of the production chain, immigration issues, and labor repatriation. Therefore, the economic goals of the Trump administration's tariff policy are meaningless. The tariff policy is a big mistake," she said.

The experts and scholars attending the seminar said that the unprecedented trade protectionist behavior of the United States is confusing.

With increasing uncertainties, countries around the world should make greater efforts to strengthen trade cooperation in agricultural products, said the seminar.

CNA President Joao Martins emphasized deepening ties with China, Brazil's top agricultural buyer.

"Our relationship with China is becoming increasingly close. We expect China to continue to be a very important partner for Brazilian agriculture," he said.

Brazilian experts warn of global agribusiness slowdown amid US tariff impact

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market