trade war

In a significant stride for Chilean exports, the country's salmon has been certified as a "healthy" option by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As the second most exported product from Chile, salmon generated over $6.3 billion in 2024, with the United States being its main market.

However, the global economic landscape is not without its challenges. Chile finds itself between China and the United States amidst global uncertainty. The Chilean Government, along with representatives from the agro-export sector, have formed a technical group to address new agricultural tariffs imposed by the United States, the second destination of Chile's silviculture and livestock exports. This initiative aims to mitigate the impact of the measures scheduled to come into effect from April 2.

The President of Fruits of Chile, Iván Marambio, has expressed concerns over the growing trade war driven by Donald Trump and its potential repercussions on international trade. Marambio warned about the negative effects of tariff measures and market closures, emphasizing that Chile's strategy has been to open up to the world.

Adding to the concern, President Donald Trump announced that from Wednesday, April 2, the United States will impose tariffs on imported agricultural products. The move aims to boost local development and growth in the sector, but has caused unease among associations and guilds in various countries, including Chile.

Amidst the official visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, spoke about the tariff war driven by Donald Trump and its possible effects on Chile's copper and agricultural exports. Boric stressed that the issue is "extremely delicate" and reaffirmed Chile's commitment to multilateralism in international forums, rejecting unilateral decisions.

• Salmón chileno recibe sello de "saludable" por la FDA en Estados Unidos - Prensa Digital (Prensadigital.cl)
• Chile entre China y EE.UU. en medio de la incertidumbre global - Paislobo Prensa (Paislobo.cl)
• Estrategia Agroindustrial Chilena: Enfrentando Desafíos Globales con Innovación y Diplomacia (Reportediario.cl)
• Presidente de Frutas de Chile y la guerra comercial: “Las acciones de proteccionismo empobrecen al mundo” (Radioagricultura.cl)
• Trump anuncia aranceles a importaciones agrícolas: ¿Cómo afectaría a Chile la medida? - Portal Innova (Portalinnova.cl)
• Presidente Boric aborda guerra comercial y revela medidas ante aranceles de EE.UU. (Radioagricultura.cl)

The Indo-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and Culture presents a summary of the important news events of the week.

Chilean President, Gabriel Boric, during an official visit from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, addressed the trade war initiated by Donald Trump and its potential effects on Chile's copper and agricultural exports. President Boric outlined the discussions he has had with various international leaders and the measures taken by the Chilean Government to anticipate possible economic impacts. The President emphasized the delicacy of the issue and reaffirmed Chile's commitment to multilateralism in international forums, rejecting unilateral decisions.

In other news, Chilean bottled wine exports have started 2025 on a high note, with an increase of 9.2% in volume and 6% in value compared to January 2024. The majority of our main markets started well this year, led by Brazil with an increase of almost 30% in volume and 20% in value compared to January 2024. Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Canada, the Netherlands, and Mexico also recorded significant increases this month. The notable exception is China, which continues to decline, this time by -16% in value compared to January of the previous year.

US tariffs on seafood imports may offer short-term gains for Norway and Chile's salmon exports, but they are bad news in the long term, warns a seafood market analyst from Kontali. A 25% tariff is expected to be imposed on Canadian and Mexican seafood products, and a similar tariff is anticipated for some imports from the EU.

Chile has been recognized as the South American and Latin American country that contributed the most cargo flow to the Panama Canal in the fiscal year 2024. It also ranked fifth in the hierarchy of nations by origin and destination, according to the Panama Canal Authority's Annual Report 2024.

However, the US President's tariff measures on agricultural products could slow the growth of exchange sectors in Chile. This announcement has caused concern in Chile's productive sector. Additionally, the 2024/2025 season of Chilean cherries closed with a negative balance, leaving estimated losses of more than US$1.6 billion for producers and exporters. The main destination for Chilean cherries, China, saw prices plummet due to a 60% increase in volumes sent, causing values to fall by 50% compared to the previous season.

• Presidente Boric aborda guerra comercial y revela medidas ante aranceles de EE.UU. (Radioagricultura.cl)
• Exportaciones de vino embotellado chileno, comienzan con el pie derecho este 2025. China, es la excepción, tras reportar un descenso de -16% | Publimicro (Publimicro.cl)
• Aranceles estadounidenses a productos del mar pueden beneficiar al salmón chileno (Salmonexpert.cl)
• Chile el país sudamericano que más flujo de carga contribuye al Canal de Panamá – Diario Chañarcillo (Chanarcillo.cl)
• conomista planteó que medidas de Trump pueden frenar el crecimiento de sectores de intercambio en Chile | Diario Usach (Diariousach.cl)
• Pérdidas de US$1.600 millones golpean al mercado de las cerezas chilenas (Sancarlosonline.cl)