Weaving transnational spaces: Peruvian and Colombian suitcase traders moving across South American borders

Figures & data

Figure 1. Dimensions of study to examine the spatialities of cross-border trading practices. Source: own representation.

Table 1. The main characteristics of the studied suitcase traders.

	Suitcase traders between Cusco (Peru) and São Paulo (Brazil)	Suitcase traders between Cúcuta (Colombia) and San Antonio de Táchira (Venezuela)
Fieldwork sessions	August–October 2014; August 2015–January 2016	August 2019; June 2021; February 2022
Research participants	25 Peruvians (3 women, 22 men).	15 Colombians (12 women, 3 men).
Demographic characteristics	Smallholders, handicrafters, working-class origins Secondary education: 22 Tertiary training: 3 Age: 40–60 (at interview time)	Smallholders, working-class origins Primary education: 10 Secondary education: 5 Age: 25–50 (at interview time)
Goods and services moved across borders	Handicrafts, semi-precious stones	Food, medicines, alcohol, petrol, furniture, beauty products, shoes, clothing, handicrafts, beauty services.
Interview location	20 interviews in São Paulo (Brazil) 5 in Cusco (returnees) (Peru).	10 interviews in Cúcuta (Colombia) 5 in San Antonio (Venezuela).

Figure 2. Area of study: trade mobilities between Cusco (Peru) and São Paulo (Brazil). Source: Figure composition and legend placement: Yvonne Riaño. Map data: Google ©2024, www.google.com/maps/place/Corumb%C3%A1,+Mato+Grosso+do+Sul,+Brasilien/@-17.588986,-58.8300045,6z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x9387a076798e7565:0x5e7c4a2bdbaeab6!8m2!3d-19.0051788!4d-57.6527913!16zL20vMDRyczdf?entry=ttu.

Figure 3. Area of study: trade mobilities between metropolitan Cúcuta (Colombia) and San Antonio de Táchira (Venezuela). Source: Figure composition and legend placement: Yvonne Riaño. Map data: Google ©2021, https://www.google.com/maps/search/cucuta+san+antonio/@7.8378349,-72.4708324,14.42z.

Figure 4. Informal cross-border trade: a Peruvian suitcase trader who typically produces handicrafts in his workshop in Pisaq (Cusco, Peru) and regularly travelled to São Paulo (Brazil) to sell clay necklaces. Source: Photograph by Lorena Izaguirre, Pisaq 2016.

Figure 5. Informal cross-border trade: Colombian Maleteros using carts to carry goods between Colombia and Venezuela across the trocha. Source: Photograph by Yvonne Riaño, La trocha, 2019.