Chile era miembro fundador del pacto comercial, antes conocido como P4, cuando este entró en vigencia en el 2006 junto con Brunei, Nueva Zelanda y Singapur. Ahora Estados Unidos y otros países están muy entusiasmados con la idea de incorporarse al acuerdo que es visto como un vehículo para la liberalización del intercambio comercial a través de la región del Asia-Pacífico.

Las negociaciones en Santiago se concentraron en temas como regulaciones de seguridad y salud, propiedad intelectual, denominación de origen y compromisos de acceso a los mercados para productos agrícolas.

“Este acuerdo se trata del proceso de integración económica y comercial más ambicioso en la historia de la región del Asia Pacífico”, señaló Jorge Bunster, quien encabeza la Dirección General de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales (DIRECON) del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.

Si bien Chile ya cuenta con tratados de libre comercio con todos los países involucrados en las negociaciones -a excepción de Vietnam, con el que está en negociaciones-, la expansión del acuerdo es lo mejor para Chile, afirmó Bunster.

Los nueve países en negociaciones representan un mercado de 472 millones de personas y un producto interno bruto combinado de US$ 16.000 millones en 2009. Ampliar el acuerdo acelerará los procedimientos aduaneros, armonizará regulaciones para evitar burocracias innecesarias y significará la formación del primer pacto comercial que una a países de las costas este y oeste del Océano Pacífico.

Básicamente, si más países se unen, el pacto también podría dar a Chile acceso preferencial a mercados asiáticos de rápido crecimiento en el futuro, sostuvo Bunster.

“Al incrementar nuestro acceso a más mercados, vamos a incrementar nuestra competitividad”, indicó Bunster.

Los aranceles son parte clave de las negociaciones, pero los acuerdos bilaterales de Chile serán respectados, señaló Bunster. “Cabe destacar, que si bien existirá el universo de productos sin arancel bajo este acuerdo, en un plazo máximo de 10 años, los acuerdos con los que cuenta Chile no se verán alterados en cuanto a las concesiones ya pactadas”.

Para Estados Unidos, que tiene un TLC con Chile desde el 2003, el TPP es visto como una plataforma de lanzamiento para la intención del gobierno del presidente Barack Obama de aumentar las exportaciones estadounidenses a la región del Asia-Pacífico y de crear buenos empleos en su país.

Bunster manifestó que la posible incorporación de Estados Unidos al TPP es una señal del respaldo para el bloque comercial Asia-Pacífico, de mayor envergadura.

No obstante, no es el único acuerdo comercial multilateral de la región. Japón, China y Corea del Sur, que en la actualidad no forman parte de las negociaciones, podrían formar su propio bloque comercial en el marco de la Asociación de Naciones del Sudeste Asiático (ASEAN).

Pero Bunster no descarta la incorporación de Japón y otros países al acuerdo TPP. “El ADN de este acuerdo es crecer y la incorporación de más países sería una señal muy positiva”, sostuvo.

Las regulaciones laborales son un aspecto clave de las negociaciones y en forma paralela a las discusiones de comercio, se celebró un seminario con el subsecretario de Trabajo de Chile, Bruno Baranda, para que los delegados aprendieran más sobre el mercado laboral de Chile.

Baranda destacó la estabilidad del mercado y el plan del gobierno de crear más de un millón de empleos en los próximos tres años, tras haber creado 485.000 en el 2010.

“Independientemente de la cantidad de empleos creados, la meta del gobierno es avanzar hacia una mejora en la calidad de los estándares laborales del país”, afirmó Baranda.

El subsecretario de Trabajo destacó además áreas para mejoras tal como la incorporación de más mujeres y jóvenes a la fuerza laboral, mediante la entrega de más capacitación y el aumento de la flexibilidad del mercado laboral.

Los delegados también pudieron escuchar a representantes de la agrupación sindical Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) y de la Confederación de la Producción y el Comercio (CPC) de Chile.

Bunster comentó que un borrador del acuerdo TPP podría estar listo para la próxima ronda de negociaciones que se celebrará en Singapur en marzo. A esta, le seguirán otras tres rondas más antes de que el año termine.

Julian Dowling es editor de bUSiness CHILE

Chile was a founding member of the trade pact, previously known as P4, when it came into force in 2006 along with Brunei, New Zealand and Singapore. Now the United States and other countries are keen to join the agreement which is seen as a vehicle for trade liberalization across the Asia-Pacific region.

The negotiations in Santiago focused on issues like health and safety regulations, intellectual property, rules of origin and market access commitments for agricultural products.

“This agreement is the most ambitious process of economic and trade integration in the history of the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jorge Bunster, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ international trade office (DIRECON).

Although Chile already has Free Trade Agreements with all the countries involved in the talks, except for Vietnam with which it is currently in negotiations, the expansion of the agreement is in Chile’s best interests, said Bunster.

The nine countries in negotiations represent a market of 472 million people and combined GDP of US$16 billion in 2009. Expanding the agreement will speed up customs procedures, harmonize regulations to avoid unnecessary red tape, and become the first trade agreement to link countries on the Pacific’s eastern and western shores.

Crucially, it could also give Chile preferential access to fast-growing Asian markets in the future if more countries join, says Bunster.

“By increasing our access to more markets, we will increase our competitiveness,” said Bunster.

Tariffs are a key component of the negotiations but Chile’s bilateral accords will be respected, says Bunster. “Although many products will have zero tariffs under this agreement, in a period up to ten years, Chile’s agreements will not be altered in terms of our commitments.”

For the United States, which has had an FTA with Chile since 2003, the TPP is seen as a launch pad for the Obama administration’s intention to increase American exports to the Asia-Pacific and create good jobs at home.

Bunster said that the possible incorporation of the United States in the TPP is a sign of support for a larger Asia-Pacific trade bloc.

But it’s not the only multilateral trade agreement in the region. Japan, China and South Korea, which are not currently part of the negotiations, could form their own trade bloc in the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

However, Bunster would not rule out the incorporation of Japan and other countries in the TPP agreement. “The DNA of this agreement is to grow and the incorporation of more countries would be a very positive sign,” he said.

Labor regulations are a key aspect of negotiations and a seminar with Chile’s Undersecretary for Labor Affairs, Bruno Baranda, was held in parallel to the trade round for delegates to learn more about Chile’s labor market.

Baranda highlighted the stability of the market and the government’s plan to create over one million jobs in the next three years after creating 485,000 in 2010.

“Independently of the number of jobs created, the government’s goal is to advance towards an improvement in the quality of the country’s labor standards,” said Baranda.

Baranda also noted areas for improvement such as incorporating more women and young people into the workforce, providing more training and increasing labor market flexibility.

The delegates also heard from representatives of the Chilean trade union confederation, Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), and the Confederation of Production and Trade (CPC).

A draft version of the TPP agreement could be ready at the next round of negotiations to be held in Singapore in March, said Bunster. This will be followed by three more rounds before the end of the year.

Julian Dowling is editor of bUSiness CHILEChile was a founding member of the trade pact, previously known as P4, when it came into force in 2006 along with Brunei, New Zealand and Singapore. Now the United States and other countries are keen to join the agreement which is seen as a vehicle for trade liberalization across the Asia-Pacific region.

The negotiations in Santiago focused on issues like health and safety regulations, intellectual property, rules of origin and market access commitments for agricultural products.

“This agreement is the most ambitious process of economic and trade integration in the history of the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jorge Bunster, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ international trade office (DIRECON).

Although Chile already has Free Trade Agreements with all the countries involved in the talks, except for Vietnam with which it is currently in negotiations, the expansion of the agreement is in Chile’s best interests, said Bunster.

The nine countries in negotiations represent a market of 472 million people and combined GDP of US$16 billion in 2009. Expanding the agreement will speed up customs procedures, harmonize regulations to avoid unnecessary red tape, and become the first trade agreement to link countries on the Pacific’s eastern and western shores.

Crucially, it could also give Chile preferential access to fast-growing Asian markets in the future if more countries join, says Bunster.

“By increasing our access to more markets, we will increase our competitiveness,” said Bunster.

Tariffs are a key component of the negotiations but Chile’s bilateral accords will be respected, says Bunster. “Although many products will have zero tariffs under this agreement, in a period up to ten years, Chile’s agreements will not be altered in terms of our commitments.”

For the United States, which has had an FTA with Chile since 2003, the TPP is seen as a launch pad for the Obama administration’s intention to increase American exports to the Asia-Pacific and create good jobs at home.

Bunster said that the possible incorporation of the United States in the TPP is a sign of support for a larger Asia-Pacific trade bloc.

But it’s not the only multilateral trade agreement in the region. Japan, China and South Korea, which are not currently part of the negotiations, could form their own trade bloc in the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

However, Bunster would not rule out the incorporation of Japan and other countries in the TPP agreement. “The DNA of this agreement is to grow and the incorporation of more countries would be a very positive sign,” he said.

Labor regulations are a key aspect of negotiations and a seminar with Chile’s Undersecretary for Labor Affairs, Bruno Baranda, was held in parallel to the trade round for delegates to learn more about Chile’s labor market.

Baranda highlighted the stability of the market and the government’s plan to create over one million jobs in the next three years after creating 485,000 in 2010.

“Independently of the number of jobs created, the government’s goal is to advance towards an improvement in the quality of the country’s labor standards,” said Baranda.

Baranda also noted areas for improvement such as incorporating more women and young people into the workforce, providing more training and increasing labor market flexibility.

The delegates also heard from representatives of the Chilean trade union confederation, Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), and the Confederation of Production and Trade (CPC).

A draft version of the TPP agreement could be ready at the next round of negotiations to be held in Singapore in March, said Bunster. This will be followed by three more rounds before the end of the year.

Julian Dowling is editor of bUSiness CHILE