Trading Partner Portal: Chile

United States, Chile and California flags displayed side by side.

Foreign Investment in Chile
Invest Chile, December 1, 2025

Tech Week, Fleet Week Highlight Trade with Latin America Partners
CalChamber, October 17, 2025

Interview with AmCham Chile – Geographical Similarities, Shared Values Form Core of Chile-California Relations – CalChamber Alert
CalChamber, August 27, 2021

Trade Overview

Chile is a long, narrow country along the western coast of South America. It is surrounded by Peru and Bolivia to the north, and Argentina to the east. Its west side is all the coast alongside the Pacific Ocean. It is dominated by the Andes Mountain Range, which also gives it a coastal desert. As of 2025, its population was approximately 19.86 million, with a GDP of roughly $357.37 billion. U.S. Department of Commerce

Chile has signed free trade agreements with all the nations of the eleven-member Transpacific Partnership, plus the United States. Chile was the first country in South America to join the OECD, becoming a member in 2010 (OECD).

U.S. – Chile Trade

Since the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement was implemented on January 1, 2004, bilateral trade between Chile and the United States has nearly quadrupled and both trade and investment opportunities abound. Upon entry into force of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2004, 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial goods exports to Chile immediately became duty free. Tariffs on the remaining products were phased out, with 100 percent of products duty free in 2015. U.S. Department of Commerce

Two-way trade in goods between the United States and Chile was approximately $38.08 billion in 2025. Exports totaled $19.12 billion, with top exports to Chile including petroleum and coal products ($5.77 billion), non-electrical machinery ($2.61 billion), transportation equipment ($2.32 billion), chemicals ($1.90 billion), and computer and electronic products ($1.80 billion).

Imports to the U.S. from Chile totaled $18.96 billion in 2025. Top imports from Chile to the United States include primary metal manufactures ($9.56 billion), agricultural products ($1.92 billion), livestock and livestock products ($1.66 billion), processed foods ($1.40 billion), and fish & other marine products ($1.17 billion).

Services trade between Chile and the U.S. totaled $12.98 billion in 2025, with exports totaling $8.34 billion. Top services exports were other business services, financial services, transport services, travel, and telecommunications, computer, and information services.

Imports from Chile to the U.S. in services totaled $4.63 billion. Top imports included transportation services, other business services, travel, financial services, and telecommunications, computer, & information services.

California – Chile Trade

2025 California exports to Chile pie chart; petroleum and coal products is the largest slice, labeled 59.3%.
(In USD Millions) – Source: trade.gov

Chile is nearly twice the size of California and home to 20.1 million people and renowned copper mines.

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 26 trade agreements, of which 25 have entered into force, covering 65 different markets and 88% of the world’s GDP (ITA).

In 2025, Chile was California’s 23rd largest export destination with $1.90 billion in exports. Top exports from California to Chile include petroleum & coal products ($1.13 billion), computer and electronic products ($200 million), chemicals ($198 million), processed foods ($94 million), and non-electrical machinery ($61 million).

Imports from Chile to California totaled $1.61 billion in 2025. Top imports from Chile to California include agricultural products ($534 million), primary metals manufactures ($324 million), wood products ($209 million), processed foods ($199 million), and fish & other marine products ($122 million).

FDI – Chile

Chile was ranked 6th in a ranking of the fastest growing sources of FDI in the U.S. in 2024 by SelectUSA. Chile has contributed between 5,000 – 9,999 U.S. jobs and $294 million in expanding U.S. exports.

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Chile totaled $38.4 billion in 2025, and Chilean FDI into the U.S. totaled $6.4 billion in the same year. The top industries that received FDI from Chile were software & IT services, food and beverages, business services, plastics, financial services, and industrial equipment (Select USA).

According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Chile, over 300 U.S. 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.

InvestChile

investchile-logo

InvestChile, the Chilean Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Investment, has a local office in San Francisco. Check it out Here!

More Articles:

Bachelet-Brown
Photo Source: Chile-CA Council

Joint Declaration Chile – California on Climate Change
On the occasion of the opening of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Republic of Chile, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, and the Governor of California, Mr. Edmund G. Brown Jr., have highlighted the important achievements accomplished as a result of the long-standing cooperation between the Republic of Chile and the State of California.
Government of Chile, Office of Governor Brown, September 25, 2015

Photo Release: Governor Brown Meets with World Leaders in New York
Governor’s Office, September 25, 2015

Chile joins the Visa Waiver Program

On February 28, 2014, Chile became the 38th nation to join the Visa Waiver Program.

Chile is an important partner with the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement implemented on January 1, 2004. According to the U.S. Travel Association, visitors from Chile to the U.S. spent more than $5,000 per trip in 2012.

DHS Announces Chile’s Designation Into the Visa Waiver Program
Department of Homeland Security, February 28, 2014

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