Chile Targets India, Philippines, ASEAN and EU in 2026 Export Push
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Key Facts
—Target Markets. Chile is actively pursuing deeper trade ties with India, the Philippines, ASEAN and the European Union in 2026.
—Population Reach. These four targets cover roughly 1.6 to 1.7 billion people, combining new and expanded market access.
—Key Goods. Priority exports include lithium, copper, fresh fruit, meats, salmon, forestry products and agrotech services.
—India CEPA. A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India is the government’s top trade priority, with a third round of talks held in Santiago.
—EU Tariff Cuts. The Interim Trade Agreement with the EU expanded tariff-free coverage to 99.6% of Chilean product lines from February 2025.
Chile is reshaping its trade map by aggressively targeting four Chile export markets that together represent a consumer base of over 1.6 billion people.
India Becomes Chile’s Top Trade Priority
India, with a population of about 1.4 billion people, is the single largest new market Chile is actively targeting in 2026. Negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are the government’s top priority, according to Undersecretary for International Economic Affairs Claudia Sanhueza.
The third round of CEPA talks took place in Santiago in late October, covering goods, services, investment and critical minerals. Chile sees India as a strategic buyer of lithium and copper for its electric vehicle ambitions, while exports to India reached US$2.871 billion in the first half of 2026, growing 109% year-on-year.
Philippines FTA Opens a Southeast Asian Gateway
The Philippines, home to roughly 115 to 120 million people, is aiming to conclude free trade agreement talks with Chile within the year. Philippine Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque confirmed the timeline, while Chilean authorities are advancing a parallel CEPA negotiation.
Chile is targeting the Philippines for exports of fresh fruit such as cherries and blueberries, meat products including beef and pork, and aquaculture goods like salmon and trout. ProChile Director General Ignacio Fernández has highlighted large opportunities in meats, fresh fruit and seafood across the broader region.
ASEAN Push Uses Thailand as a Commercial Hub
Chile is treating the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc of roughly 680 million people, as a new priority export region with Thailand serving as its commercial hub. In 2026, Chile participated in the Chile-ASEAN Business Meeting in Bangkok, connecting 28 Chilean companies and five trade associations with regional buyers.
The export offensive focuses on agro-food, forestry, aquaculture and agrotech solutions. Chile’s membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in force since February 2023, also improves access to several Asia-Pacific markets including Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
EU Trade Deal Expands Access for Lithium and Food
The European Union’s Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) with Chile entered into force on 1 February 2025, expanding tariff-free coverage from 94.7% to 99.6% of Chilean product lines. This effectively opens the full 450-million-person EU market to almost all Chilean exports.
More than 1,800 Chilean products now benefit from zero tariffs, including olive oil, meats, dairy, salmon preparations, nuts and fresh fruit. The deal also guarantees non-discriminatory EU access to Chilean lithium, while Chilean service providers in IT, insurance and engineering now receive treatment almost at the level of a European provider.
Chilean exports to the EU totalled US$8.853 billion in 2024, with the bloc becoming the largest destination for products such as nuts, canned mussels, hazelnuts and avocados. Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren and SUBREI handled the technical negotiations and market-access schedules that made the ITA possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which four markets is Chile prioritising for exports in 2026?
Chile is actively targeting India, the Philippines, the ASEAN region with Thailand as a hub, and the European Union under the new Interim Trade Agreement. Together these markets cover roughly 1.6 to 1.7 billion people, combining new trade deals and expanded access under recently concluded agreements.
What goods is Chile exporting to India under the new trade talks?
Chile is targeting India for exports of copper, gold, lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, as well as agri-food and processed foods. India views Chile as a strategic supplier of critical minerals for its electric vehicle and clean-energy industries, while Chilean exports to India grew 109% in the first half of 2026.
How does the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement benefit Chilean exporters?
The ITA, in force since February 2025, expanded EU tariff reductions to cover 99.6% of Chilean tariff lines, granting zero tariffs to more than 1,800 Chilean products. It also guarantees non-discriminatory EU access to Chilean lithium and improves treatment for Chilean service providers in sectors such as IT, insurance and engineering. Sources: European Parliament legislative train, Marca Chile, US Department of Commerce country guide, and Rio Times reporting.
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