As the United States and China exchange barbs amid a trade war that could drag the global economy into turmoil, a South American country with a solid record in trade engagement is ready to step up to soften the tension, a top Chilean trade official said.

Rodrigo Yanez, Chile's vice minister of trade, told The Japan Times in an interview that his country can demonstrate its leadership at global conferences by building consensus on the importance of trade, as well as on the issue of an effective trade dispute settlement mechanism. He was visiting the city of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture this past weekend to attend the Group of 20 trade and digital economy ministers meeting.

Chile is not part of the G20, but it is among the countries invited to this year's summit. In November, the country will host the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in its capital city Santiago.