India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal is scheduled to visit Chile this month to review the progress of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, according to a senior government official cited by The Economic Times.
The visit comes as India and Chile work to widen the scope of their existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which was implemented in 2006, the report said. The official said that during the secretary's visit, progress of negotiations will be reviewed.
India and Chile implemented a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in 2006 and are now negotiating to widen its scope for a CEPA.
CEPA Scope and Negotiating Priorities
The Economic Times reported that the proposed CEPA is intended to build upon the existing PTA and would cover a broader range of sectors than the current arrangement. According to the report, the CEPA seeks to encompass:
- Digital services
- Investment promotion and cooperation
- Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
- Critical minerals
These sectors mark an expansion beyond the trade-in-goods focus that typically anchors a PTA, reflecting an effort to deepen bilateral economic engagement.
| Agreement | Status | Sectors Mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| PTA | Implemented in 2006 | Not specified in source |
| CEPA | Under negotiation | Digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, MSMEs, critical minerals |
Other Latin American and Bilateral Trade Talks
India is also moving forward with negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement with the Mercosur bloc, according to The Economic Times. Mercosur is a Latin American trading bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The report added that India may also negotiate trade pacts with Mexico and Kenya.
In the same article, The Economic Times surfaced related trade items, including a headline stating that India's exports rose 15% in April-July and that Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is confident of reaching a $1 trillion export target. The article also referenced an Indonesia-India discussion on a proposal to create a Preferential Trade Agreement.
For importers and exporters tracking Indian trade policy, the Chile visit signals continued government attention to expanding preferential market access beyond traditional partners. The specific sectors named — digital services, investment, MSMEs, and critical minerals — indicate where negotiators are seeking new commitments. Businesses in those areas should monitor the outcome of the review, as any eventual CEPA would likely revise tariff schedules and add binding cooperation provisions.
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