Where the Andes Meet Red Tape: Unraveling Chile’s Trade Barriers
When one thinks of Chile, it is often in the context of its stunning geography: the vast aridity of the Atacama Desert, the rugged Andes, or the biting winds of Patagonia. However, beneath this natural beauty lies an intricate and finely tuned system that governs the movement of goods across its borders. This framework, comprising voluntary standards, binding regulations, and stringent conformity assessments, plays a crucial yet frequently overlooked role in maintaining the delicate equilibrium between domestic policy objectives and global trade commitments. Chile’s approach to Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) embodies its distinctive ethos: pragmatic, internationally engaged, and quietly efficient. Understanding the Role of TBTs in Modern Trade At the core of this regulatory framework lies a pressing question: how can a country protect its citizens and environment without unnecessarily hindering trade? For Chile, the answer has been a model that prioritises global harmonis...