China goes sweet on Nicaragua

China last year overtook -- by far -- the United States as the leading importer of Nicaraguan sugar, according to figures published by the Central Bank on January through September.

Of the 500,000 metric tons exported by Nicaragua, a third was sold to China. These sales amounted to more than double than those of the US and eight times those of Taiwan which -- unlike Beijing -- maintains relations with Managua.

China bought $61 million of Nicaraguan sugar January though September last year. In 2017 it bought $4.3 million and in 2015 and 2016, not even a dollar.