India and Chile Begin Talks for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Pact
Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been signed between India and Chile to boost trade. The agreement was signed by Chile’s Ambassador to India, H.E. Juan Angulo, and Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary at the Department of Commerce, who is also India’s chief negotiator for the CEPA. This move highlights the commitment of both countries to deepen their economic and commercial relationship. The first round of negotiations will take place from 26–30 May 2025 in New Delhi.
The CEPA aims to build on the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two nations and will cover new areas such as digital trade, MSMEs, investment promotion, and cooperation in critical minerals. India and Chile have enjoyed friendly and growing ties since the signing of their Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation in 2005, followed by a PTA in 2006, which was later expanded in 2016 and became effective in 2017.
Both the countries had agreed to further expand the PTA, holding three rounds of talks between 2019 and 2021, in April 2019. The Joint Study Group (JSG), set up to explore the CEPA, finalized its report in April 2024. During the Chilean President’s state visit to India in April 2025, both nations reaffirmed their shared goal of enhancing trade. The CEPA is expected to open new opportunities for trade, create jobs, promote investments, and bring the two economies closer.
Source: PIB
