His Nanjing-based company, Jiangsu Haosanyou Information Technology, helps shippers of marine cargo find business along China’s supply chains via the internet. For Zhang, the US$3.5 billion mega-port, which was inaugurated on November 14, foreshadows a boom in Chinese e-commerce in Latin America, where conventional Chinese trade is already growing.

In their initial round of responses to Trump's surprise announcement on Monday for a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods until they clamped down on illicit drugs and migrants crossing the border,

A spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Washington said his country is fighting fentanyl trafficking, the reason for the new promised penalty.

President-elect Donald Trump vowed additional tariffs on China as well as US neighbors Canada and Mexico, roiling markets with his first specific threat to curb global trade flows since his election win.