Washington is concerned about possible Chinese influence in a strategic $10 billion contract in Argentina

The chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Brian Mast, warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio against what he described as an attempt at Chinese influence in a strategic tender in Argentina, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

The case concerns a 25-year contract for dredging and developing the Paraná River, a vital artery for Argentine agricultural exports. The Argentine government estimates that this project could represent up to $10 billion in investment. A final decision is expected in the coming days.

In his letter dated April 23, Brian Mast asserts that China is attempting to circumvent the tender rules through private actors. The specifications explicitly prohibited state-owned enterprises from participating, effectively excluding Chinese state-owned groups.

The accusations primarily target Jan De Nul, a Belgian company bidding for the contract and the long-standing operator of the Paraná waterway. According to US lawmakers, the company maintains close ties with Chinese entities through Servimagnus, a member of the consortium that submitted a bid.

Both companies have firmly rejected these accusations, calling the allegations a "malicious lie" and denying any connection to the Chinese government. At this stage, no public evidence has been presented to support these suspicions.

Jan De Nul is facing competition from a consortium led by DEME, in partnership with the American fund KKR & Co and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. According to the rating system used in the bidding process, Jan De Nul was previously considered the favorite.

The administration of Donald TrumpA close associate of Argentine President Javier Milei, he is closely monitoring the expansion of Chinese influence in Latin America. China was, until recently, Argentina's second-largest trading partner, reinforcing Washington's strategic concerns in the region.