NEGOTIATIONS for the country‘s free trade agreement (FTA) with Chile is wrapping up soon, according to an official of the Department of Trade and Industry.
“We hope to conclude it hopefully by next month,” Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty told reporters late last week.
It would be the Philippines‘ first FTA in Latin America.
Negotiations for the Philippines-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) began in December 2024.
The third round of talks, held Oct. 6-10, 2025, focused on goods, services, digital trade, and technical cooperation.
The deal aims to enhance economic cooperation and reduce trade barriers through preferential access of goods and services.
It covers investment, intellectual property, digital trade, competition, and financial services, among others.
It provides opportunities for Filipino professionals, service providers, and companies wanting to do business in Chile.
In 2024, trade between the two countries surged by 137 percent to $334.13 million. Philippine exports to Chile totaled $43.3 million, while imports reached $290.8 million.
In 2025, Gepty met with Chilean Vice Minister of Trade Claudia Sanhueza during APEC Leaders’ Week. They expressed determination to finalize the trade deal as the Philippines pursues inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Chile seeks to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Other Philippines FAs under negotiations are those with the European Union and Canada.
The country currently has four bilateral trade deals: the PH-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement; the PH-European Free Trade Association FTA; PH-Republic of Korea FTA; and the PH-UAE CEPA.
