Trading Partner Portal: Chile

Trade Overview

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

Since the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement was implemented on January 1, 2004, bilateral trade between Chile and the United States has doubled and both trade and investment opportunities abound. Under the Free Trade Agreement, 85 percent of industrial products are traded without duties together with 75 percent of farm production. After just ten years, all trade in non-agricultural goods will take place without tariffs or quotas; for agriculture, the phase-out will take 12 years.

Two-way trade in goods between the United States and Chile increased to $28.3 billion in 2012. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, exports to Chile from the United States have risen by over 90 percent since implementation of the Agreement. Exports to Chile of petroleum, machinery, and fertilizer from the United States have experienced a marked increase since 2003.

Chile is the United States’ 19th largest export destination with almost $18.9 billion in exports. Top imports from Chile to the United States include primary metal manufacturing, agricultural products and chemicals. Top exports from the United States to Chile include petroleum & coal products, machinery, transportation equipment and computers. Nearly 12,000 US firms export approximately 5,000 different products to Chile. Over 2,000 Chilean firms exported as many different products to the US.

According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Chile, over 300 US companies have investments in Chile, with over 40 of them using Chile as a platform for services in the region. Chilean affiliates of US direct investors are estimated to employ over 58,500 people and their value-added contributed 3.2 percent to Chile's gross domestic product.

Chile is nearly twice the size of California and home to over 17.2 million people and renowned copper mines. In 2003, the Chilean economy began to recover after a 1999 slump, reaching a 3.3 percent growth in real GDP. GDP grew by 5 percent in 2012. Since 1990, there has been more than $50 billion in direct foreign investment in Chile. Chile has the most stable and fastest growing economy in the region which puts it in the best position to promote democracy and political freedom. Chile has 59 bilateral or regional trade agreements in effect, more Free Trade Agreements than any other country.

Chile is California's 19th largest export destination. In 2012, California exported more than $2.1 billion to Chile. This included petroleum and coal products, computer and electronic products, machinery, and chemicals. California imports the following from Chile: fresh fruits, forestry products, wines, and seafood. 

According to the Chilean embassy, in 2012, there are approximately 300 Chilean students attending universities in California, while there are approximately 150 California students attending universites in Chile. 

California Chile Plan

The Chile-California Council met in San Francisco on Friday, April 16, 2011 for their
first working session. This is a group of 25 individuals from Chile and California representing business, government, academia, the arts, education and science. Chile and California have rich histories and much in common. They share anecdotes of fortune and poverty caused by the Gold Rush. They are natural partners due to geographical similarities, reverse agricultural seasons, and location along the Pacific Rim.

A shared history of cooperation has existed since the 1960s and 1970s within the framework of the Alliance for Progress initiated by the United States.  Replacing the assistance model with partnership, both have launched the plan: Chile-California, a strategic association for the 21st Century.  The three key initiatives are development of human capital, increase in trade and investment opportunities, and promotion of research and development.  The most effective areas for cooperation will be: renewable energies, entrepreneurship and innovation, seismology, astronomy, information technologies, biotechnology, education, culture, agriculture, green initiatives, tourism, motion picture industry, water resource management, infrastructure, and scholarships for internships and college/ university studies.

By intensifying collaboration within these areas, institutions, organizations, universities, research centers, corporations and national individuals will strengthen the bonds of friendship as well as economic, business, technological and educational activities which will result in mutual benefit.

• Chile - California 2011
• A Strategic Association for the 21st Century
• Bilateral Trade Chile – US: A Win Win 2009
• Chile – California 2009

For further information, please contact: Trade Commissioner – PROCHILE.

Signing of International Wine Trade Memorandum of Understanding Will Ease Burden on U.S. Wine Exporters, Support American Jobs
 
October 20, 2011 - Santiago, Chile - Members of the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG), including the United States, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, and Georgia, joined together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Certification Requirements, which will help reduce barriers to international wine trade and support exporters of wine in each participating country. This MOU will facilitate trade in wine among these countries by encouraging the elimination of burdensome requirements and certifications of wine products and ingredients.
 
"The MOU signed today by these six World Wine Trade Group member countries is a key example of the kind of collaboration between trading partners that is essential to increase trade and support international growth in this global economy," said United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. "The production and sale of wine is a valued and robust industry in the United States and this MOU will help contribute to its continued growth and viability, while supporting much needed American jobs in these challenging economic times."
 
Please find the full release here.

Universites in Chile 

DuocUC is one of the largest and most important higher education institutions in Chile, with 64.000 full time students and 9 schools with more than 72 programs. Its 14 campuses are located in the three most developed regions of Chile. These 9 Schools at DuocUC are: Engineering, Informatics and Telecommunications, Communication, Design, Health, Business Administration, Natural Resources, Construction and Tourism.

DuocUC was founded by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in 1968 and is currently part of the network of this recognized and prestigious University. In 2010, Duoc UC obtained 7 out of 7 years of institutional accreditation from the National Commission of Accreditation (CNA), which confirmed the soundness of its project and its relevance among the higher education institutions in Chile.  Furthermore near 76% of its study programs have an average of over 5 years of accreditation and more than 50% of them for periods of 6 or 7 years a unique achievement in the Chilean higher education system.  Through its 2-year and 4 year-long degrees, DuocUC offers industry-focused programs. It provides a stimulating learning environment and state-of-the-art facilities that paves the way for professional and academic success.