UnionPay to plug Chinese payment apps into Brazil’s Pix after US tariffs over the system
China’s UnionPay International plans to connect Chinese payment apps to Pix, the Brazilian payment system at the centre of Washington’s trade case against Brasilia, allowing Chinese tourists to pay by scanning a code. Under the pilot, users of the UnionPay app and of Chinese bank apps linked to its platform would scan a merchant’s code and pay from the account they use at home. Chinese state…
China’s UnionPay International is set to link Chinese payment apps with Brazil’s Pix system, despite trade tensions caused by US tariffs. Pix, a digital payment platform launched by Brazil’s central bank in 2020, has become the preferred method for Brazilians to move money, processing transactions instantly between accounts at any time without fees.
The system has gained traction among merchants, from large stores to street vendors, and has diminished the use of cash and cheques. The US Trade Representative imposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian goods in July 2025 after finding that the government’s support for Pix gave American payment companies an unfair edge. The central bank has defended Pix, calling it a public asset and an international benchmark, and has pushed for its expansion globally.
The dispute has even spurred Brazil to seek WTO protection, though the panel's inaction has provided limited relief. UnionPay's involvement follows a 2023 financial cooperation agreement between the People's Bank of China and Brazil's central bank, which covered investment conditions, infrastructure, and payments. The two nations have also explored direct yuan-real trading and a potential bilateral bond market link.
Despite the lack of a specific timeline, the Chinese side emphasized the potential benefits of connecting their payment systems with Brazil’s Pix.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
