Empresas transnacionais e geopolítica contemporânea: as dinâmicas entre Brasil, China e Estados Unidos da América na cadeia global de valor da soja

Abstract

The present research analyzes the dynamics involving three key countries in the Global Value Chain (GVC) of soy (Glycine max): the United States, China, and Brazil. The general objective of this study is to examine contemporary transformations in the three main territorial actors of the soy GVC, aiming to understand the role played by the five largest grain traders in relation to the geopolitical dynamics of these states. To achieve this, a theoretical and bibliographic review is conducted, based on the historical reconstruction of the issue, along with an assessment of the contemporary situation through the analysis of secondary data. The study highlights the importance of logistics and trade in contemporary geopolitics and evaluates the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in the globalization process, situating them within a broader framework marked by shifts in hegemonic disputes and power hierarchies. It is argued that soy is a central asset for understanding the agro-food mechanics of the analyzed countries. As for the results, we point out that in the United States, the consolidation of economic and political power was accompanied by the technical and institutional structuring that enabled the concentration of transnational grain trade in four major companies, known as the ABCD group (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus). China, despite being the historical birthplace of the oilseed, has only recently resumed a central role in this chain, driven by its economic rise and the internationalization of its State-Owned Transnational Enterprises (SOTNEs). Currently, China is the world's main importer of soy and, through state subsidies, has strengthened the China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), which has emerged as the second-largest commodity trader globally. Brazil, in turn, has become the world's largest soybean producer in recent years, yet its participation in the GVC remains predominantly based on the export of low-value-added grains, mostly controlled by foreign TNCs. This scenario has significant spatial implications, highlighting the role of TNCs in consolidating a sociotechnical system that manages global operations according to their interests and spheres of influence. In this context, the private and transnational governance of the sector limits the possibilities for an autonomous strategic positioning by Brazilian actors.