CHILE’S IMPORT REGULATIONS AND WELL-DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE MAKE IT A HOSPITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR SMALL U.S. BUSINESSES, SAID EMILIO D. ASSEF, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TRADE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SANTIAGO, AT A SEMINAR ON CHILE, PRESENTED BY THE ATLANTA U.S. EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER, ON OCT. 1.
MR. ASSEF, A SENIOR PARTNER AT SANTIAGO-BASED J&A INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS, TOLD ATTENDEES AT THE SEMINAR AT THE ATLANTA HILTON & TOWERS HOTEL THAT IMPORT PERMITS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR SHIPMENTS UNDER $3,000.
THIS IS A DEFINITE ADVANTAGE FOR SMALLER COMPANIES THAT RELY ON FREQUENT SMALL SHIPMENTS, HE SAID, BECAUSE IT CUTS DOWN ON THE HASSLE INVOLVED IN IMPORTING GOODS.
COMPANIES ONLY NEED TO PAY DUTIES AND TARIFFS ON THESE SHIPMENTS, SAID MR. ASSEF. TARIFFS ARE A UNIFORM 11%, HE ADDED, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.
FOR LARGER SHIPMENTS BETWEEN $3,000 AND $100,000 THAT NEED TO BE MOVED QUICKLY, THE PERMITS CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH COMMERCIAL BANKS AFTER THE GOODS ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS, HE SAID.
THE CHILEAN GOVERNMENT IMPOSES FEW RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF PHARMACEUTICALS, CHEMICALS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND WEAPONS, WHICH NEED SPECIAL APPROVAL, SAID MR. ASSEF.
MARIA DEL CARMEN DOMINGUEZ, ECONOMIC ATTACH… AT THE CHILEAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE SEMINAR, LISTED PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND APPAREL AS THE GEORGIA PRODUCTS MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN THE CHILEAN MARKET.
GEORGIA IS THE 12TH LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE $3.8 BILLION THE U.S. EXPORTS TO CHILE, SHE ADDED, AND AN ESTIMATED 950 JOBS IN THE STATE ARE DEPENDENT ON TRADE WITH CHILE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SEMINAR, CALL LINCOLN MARTINEZ AT THE ATLANTA U.S. EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER AT (404) 657-1960.