Chilean fruit trade leaders strive to strengthen economic ties with the US

Writing and reporting by Macarena Bravo. Lee esta noticia en español.

A delegation of Chilean fruit trade leaders met with US government officials in Washington last week in a bilateral meeting aimed at bringing the two countries' economies closer together.

Iván Marambio, President of Frutas de Chile, a local fruit industry organization, said that on the Andean country's side, the objective of the gathering was to “reinforce the role of Chilean fruit in the American economy and to build relationships that could shape future trade policy.”

Chilean authorities met with the United States Trade Representative's Office and members of Congress, as well as Trump administration officials. While tariffs were not the primary agenda, Marambio says that they hope to lay the groundwork for future discussions. 

“The main objective was not directly to lower tariffs, but to connect with people and institutions that can influence future trade conditions between Chile and the United States,” Marambio told FreshFruitPortal.com.

Marambio added that Frutas de Chile plans to follow up by submitting technical reports to US authorities highlighting the local economic impact of its exports.

Building long-term influence

Marambio described the response from US officials as positive, adding that authorities “recognize Chile as a reliable player and particularly value the role of its strategic industries in the Western Hemisphere.”

Before the meetings with US stakeholders, the delegation also held discussions with Chile’s ambassador to the United States, Juan Gabriel Valdés. Marambio called the meeting “a joint effort between the public and private sectors, aligned with the Chilean government's international strategy.”

No other meetings with US government officials have been scheduled at this time. However, Marambio noted that the outreach effort is ongoing. 

“We know that tariffs are likely to remain in place for some time, but building lasting relationships will allow us to influence future decisions,” he said. “We see it as an important step in positioning Chile, not only as an exporter, but as a key partner in strategic sectors for the United States.”

According to USDA data, Chile remains a leading supplier of counter-seasonal fruits to the US, including table grapes, blueberries, cherries, and stone fruit.

In 2024, US imports of Chilean fruit were valued at over $2.5 billion.

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