China's expanding footprint in Latin America is expected to be high on the agenda when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Panama next week on his first overseas trip since taking office, according to observers.

Rubio is expected to visit Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, according to the Department of State

He describes rising exports to China of Argentine soyabeans, frozen beef, semen from prize bulls and other farm goods worth billions of dollars. Latin American farming barons are often selling to state-owned agencies,