5 days ago
India and Chile Target 2026 Completion of CEPA Talks
India and Chile are working on a new trade agreement called a CEPA.
They want to finish the agreement by the end of 2026.
The deal could make it easier for companies in both countries to buy and sell goods.
The countries still need to settle questions about market access.
They also disagree about how critical minerals such as lithium and copper should be traded.
India wants reliable supplies for batteries, solar equipment, and electric vehicles.
Chile wants more of its minerals to be processed inside Chile.
The talks stopped for a while after Chile’s elections but may now continue.
India and Chile aim to complete Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations by the end of 2026.
Market access and reliable trade in critical minerals remain key unresolved issues.
The countries have held four formal negotiation rounds, most recently in New Delhi in December.
Talks paused after Chile’s elections but resumed after the new government reviewed the negotiations.
Bilateral trade rose from $3.84 billion in 2024 to $5.38 billion in 2025.
- Who
- India and Chile, represented by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Chilean Vice-Minister of International Economic Relations Pauls Estevaz Weinstein.
- What
- The countries committed to completing negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026.
- Where
- The meeting took place in Santiago, Chile, while the latest formal negotiation round was held in New Delhi in December.
- When
- The commitment was made during a meeting in Santiago; the target is completion by year-end 2026.
- Why
- To deepen bilateral trade and establish a balanced framework covering market access and predictable supplies of critical and strategic minerals.
India’s Priorities
Chile’s Priorities
Mineral supply security
India’s Priorities
India wants safeguards against sudden supply disruptions and export restrictions on critical minerals.
Chile’s Priorities
Chile wants to retain the ability to manage and develop its mineral resources.
Domestic processing
India’s Priorities
India is seeking predictable access to lithium and copper for electric-vehicle batteries and clean-energy industries.
Chile’s Priorities
Chile wants more processing of its mineral resources to take place domestically so it can retain greater value.
Market access
India’s Priorities
India is seeking commercially meaningful and equitable market-access outcomes for businesses in both countries.
Chile’s Priorities
Chile’s government reviewed the negotiations before indicating its willingness to restart discussions.
Key facts
- Trade value
- Bilateral trade increased from $3.84 billion in 2024 to $5.38 billion in 2025.
- Negotiation progress
- India and Chile have completed four formal CEPA negotiation rounds.
- Latest negotiation round
- The most recent formal round took place in New Delhi in December.
- Current trade framework
- The countries currently trade under an expanded Preferential Trade Agreement.
- PTA coverage
- The agreement expanded from 474 tariff lines in 2006 to 2,829 lines in 2016, with the expanded version taking effect in 2017.
- Critical minerals
- The proposed CEPA would include a dedicated chapter on critical and strategic minerals.
- Regional trade position
- Chile is India’s fifth-largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
Quotes
Department of Commerce
India’s government department responsible for commerce and trade policy
“With bilateral trade growing steadily, India remains committed to concluding the negotiations within this year with outcomes that are equitable, commercially meaningful and beneficial to businesses in both countries.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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