Chilean Customs Tariff, Trade Agreements, and Clean Production
What is the Chilean Customs Tariff?
The Chilean Customs Tariff is the official list of goods and their associated tariffs for import and export, structured according to the International Harmonized System of Description and Coding.
Chile’s Trade Agreements
Types of Agreements
Chile has signed various trade agreements, including:
- Free Trade Agreement (FTA): An agreement to expand markets for goods and services between participating countries by eliminating or reducing tariffs and establishing agreements on services. Examples: USA, EU, Canada.
- Economic Complementation Agreement (ACE): An agreement aimed at eliminating restrictions that distort trade and investment. Examples: Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay), Peru.
- Partial Agreement: A basic bilateral agreement focused on partial free trade for specific products. Often a first step towards broader trade liberalization. Examples: India, Cuba.
Chile maintains a low and streamlined tariff system, with a base default effective tariff of approximately 4% and an average effective tariff across all trade of around 2%.
Certificate of Origin
A Certificate of Origin certifies the country of origin of exported products, allowing them to benefit from preferential treatment under trade agreements. It verifies that the product originates from the country specified and prevents misrepresentation of origin. In Chile, the issuance process is privatized, with organizations like SOFOFA responsible for verifying the origin of raw materials and issuing the certificate.
Exceptions exist for FTAs with Canada, Mexico, Central America, the USA, and Korea, where exporters self-certify the origin, reducing costs.
Annual Tariff Reductions
Chile negotiates annual tariff reductions in its agreements through two primary methods:
- Percentage preference or tax rebate (e.g., a 100% rebate on X% tax, paying only the residual amount).
- Direct modification of the payable tariff.
Regulations on Industrial Waste Liquids
Two main regulations govern industrial waste liquids:
and
and
Regulations on Chemical Formulation and Information
Regulations governing chemical formulation and information include:
and
(for consumer labeling)
The Triple Bottom Line
The “triple bottom line” refers to measuring performance across economic, social, and environmental dimensions to achieve sustainability. It emphasizes meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Principles of ISO 26000
The ISO 26000 standard promotes social responsibility and includes principles such as:
- Accountability: Responsibility for social and environmental impacts.
- Transparency: Open communication about policies, decisions, actions, and impacts.
- Ethical behavior: Adherence to recognized standards of conduct.
- Stakeholder consideration: Awareness of stakeholder interests.
- Legal compliance: Respect for the rule of law.
- International norms of behavior: Alignment with global standards.
- Human rights: Respect for fundamental human rights.
Key Issues of ISO 26000
Key issues addressed by ISO 26000 include:
- Organizational governance
- Human rights
- Labor practices
- Environment
- Fair operating practices
- Consumer issues
- Community involvement
Industry Concerns about ISO 26000
Some industry concerns regarding ISO 26000 include:
- Broad scope: The standard’s scope extends to an organization’s sphere of influence (suppliers and customers), which can be challenging to manage.
- Government responsibility: Concerns that governments may shift social responsibilities to businesses.
- Complicity: Potential liability for the actions of third parties.
Hierarchical Decisions in Clean Production
Hierarchical decisions in clean production prioritize actions in the following order:
- Prevention
- Minimization
- Reuse and recycling
- Treatment
- Final disposal
Clean Production Agreements
A Clean Production Agreement is an agreement between businesses and government agencies to implement cleaner production methods with specific goals and actions. These agreements aim to improve efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness while minimizing environmental impact.
Reasons for Signing a Clean Production Agreement
Companies may sign Clean Production Agreements for reasons such as:
- Increased efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness
- Improved environmental performance
- Enhanced public image
- Access to public funding (e.g., CORFO)
State Financial Support for Clean Production
Several financial support instruments are available for clean production investments in Chile, including CORFO programs like the PL Fund (various lines), FOCAL APL, and various CORFO credits for environmental and regional investments.