Chile faces threat of additional 12.5% tariff in the US market

Chile has entered a list of economies investigated by the United States under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a mechanism that allows the US government to respond to trade practices it considers harmful to its economic interests.

The decision was announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which argues that Chile does not have sufficiently effective mechanisms to prevent the importation of goods made through forced labor.

According to Washington's preliminary assessment, this situation would constitute an "unreasonable" practice that creates distortions in international trade and affects the competitiveness of US workers and companies.

The investigation is part of a broader offensive involving 60 economies from different regions of the world, seeking to strengthen requirements regarding labor traceability within global supply chains.

Although the measure does not yet have concrete effects, it does mark a new focus of attention for Chilean trade policy and for exporting companies that depend on the US market.

Possible tariffs raise concern among exporters

One of the most relevant aspects of the proposal is the potential application of additional tariffs on imports from the investigated countries.

In the case of Chile, the preliminary recommendation contemplates a surcharge of 12.5% on products entering the US market, a percentage higher than that proposed for countries that already have prohibitions or partial regulations related to goods produced through forced labor.

If implemented, the measure could affect the competitiveness of various export sectors, forcing companies to strengthen certification mechanisms, supplier monitoring, and traceability systems to verify the origin of their products.

Specialists warn that the scenario reflects a growing trend in international trade, where labor and environmental standards are beginning to carry weight similar to traditional economic factors. In this context, access to international markets increasingly depends on compliance with requirements related to sustainability, human rights, and transparency in production chains.

Despite this, Chilean authorities urge caution. Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna emphasized that the initiative corresponds to a preliminary recommendation and not a final decision, also recalling that both countries have had a Free Trade Agreement in force since 2004 and a consolidated commercial relationship spanning more than two decades.

Over the coming weeks, a public consultation process will be developed in which governments, companies, trade associations, and other stakeholders can present evidence, request exclusions, or submit comments regarding the proposal.

Public hearings are scheduled for July in Washington, after which the US administration must decide whether to maintain the initiative, introduce modifications, or discard its implementation.

The discussion takes place in a context of increasing use of trade tools by the United States to influence the labor and productive practices of its trading partners, expanding the scope of requirements that traditionally regulated the international exchange of goods and services.