   
  
WT/REG423/M/1  
 
5 July 2022 
(22-5168) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Hundred and Third  Session    
 
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHILE  
(GOODS  AND SERVICES ) 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF  27 JUNE  2022 
Chairm an: Ambassador H.E. Mr. Taeho LEE (Republic of Korea ) 
1.1.  The 10 3rd Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter "CRTA" or the 
"Committee") was convened in Airgram WTO/AIR/RTA/ 28/Rev.1  dated 1 7 June 2022.  
1.2.  Under Agenda Item F.III of the Session, the CRTA considered the Association  Agreement 
between th e United Kingdom and Chile, goods and services (hereinafter "the Agreement"). The 
Chairman  stated that the Factual Presentation had been prepared by the Secretariat on its own 
responsibility in full consultation with the Parties, in accordance with paragraph 7(b) of the 
Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (document WT/L/671).  
1.3.  The Agreement had entered into force on 1 January 2021 . It had been notified on 31 December 
2020 under Article  XXIV:7(a) of the GATT  1994 and Article V:7(a) of the GATS  
(documents  WT/REG423/N/1 and S/C/N/1027 , respectively ) as an agreement establishing a free 
trade area for trade in goods and services  within the meaning of Article XXIV of the GATT 1994 and 
Article V of the GATS, respectively . The text of the Agreement and its Annexes was available on the 
Parties' official websites and in the WTO RTA database . The Factual Presentation on the goods and 
services aspects of the Agreement (document  WT/REG423/1  dated 12 April 2022) and questions 
and replies on th e Agreement (document WT/REG423/2  dated 10 June 2022) had been distributed.  
1.4.  The representative of the United Kingdom  joined other Members in condemn ing the illegal 
Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia's illegal invasion was clearly impeding Ukraine's  ability to  trade 
and exercise its WTO rights and obligations. It was an attack on Ukraine and on the founding 
principles of the WTO . He informed the CRTA that  the UK had reduced to zero all tariffs under the 
Ukraine -UK FTA to support Ukraine's economy and had recent ly signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding with Ukraine  to tak e forward future cooperation on reconstruction  efforts . 
1.5.  He recalled that a t the 102nd Session of  the CRTA , Members had had the opportunity to review 
the UK's trade agreements with Türkiye and Singapore. The three presentations on the agenda  that 
day continue d the process of multilateral review of the UK's FTA programme. He thank ed the 
Secretariat for preparing the factual presentation, and Members for participating in the multilateral 
review of the Agreement.  
1.6.  In a joint statement for the Parties, he noted that United  Kingdom and Chile were longstanding 
trade partners with a shared approach to open markets and free and fair trade.  Chile had been the 
first country to sig n a continuity agreement with the UK post  its exit from the EU. The UK looked  
forwar d to the bilateral relationship continu ing to flourish under th e Agreement. Trade between the 
two countries had been worth GBP 1.5 billion in 2021 , an increase of 5.4% over GBP 77 million in 
2020.  
1.7.  The Agreement reproduce d the effects of the EU -Chile Assoc iation Agreement as closely as 
possible, including the establishment of institutional arrangements between the UK and Chile based 
on existing structure s that  allowed for the on -going management and updating of the Agreement. 
Many  of the general changes to the EU -Chile Agreement, such as replacing the EU with the UK, were WT/REG423/M/1  
 
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  applied mutatis mutandis , with technical changes necessary to apply the Agreement as if it ha d been 
concluded between the UK and Chile in the first instance. Where more substantive amendments had 
been required to ensure operability in a bilateral context, on which  the Parties  jointly agree d that 
the mutatis mutandis  approach would not deliver adequate cert ainty, detailed amendments ha d 
been included in the Annex to the Agreement.  
1.8.  The trade provisions of the Agreement cover ed goods, services, government procurement, 
intellectual property, competition and dispute settlement. The Parties had  also agreed 17 jo int 
declarations, including on rules of origin and trade in wines and spirits. In addition, the Parties had 
established a n annual  trade dialogue with an opportunity to discuss operational and compliance 
issues at a ministerial level. At the meeting of the Dialogue in 2021, they had agreed on a 
modernization road map to help meet the various commitments to review the current arrangements. 
The modernization road map , he believed, would allow the Parties to work on a reciprocal basis to 
identify and prioritize  specific areas or products, which would enhance the existing bilateral trade 
relationship.  
1.9.  As for  the institutional provisions , the bodies provided for in the EU -Chile Agreement had been  
incorporated and retained , mutatis mutandis , although  some modifications had been made in the 
compositions and functions of these bodies to ensure they were operable in a bilateral context.  The 
Parties were  taking a pragmatic approach to institutional mechanisms under the Agreement, looking 
to simplify the b ureaucracy , and instead focus on delivering on positive outcomes, including through 
existing working groups.  
1.10.  In conclusion, he stated that t he Agreement had entered into force on 1 January 2021, and 
its implementation had been smooth , with any operational issues quickly resolved thanks to a close 
working relationship between UK and Chil ian officials.  
1.11.  The representative of Chile thank ed the United Kingdom for introducing  the Association 
Agreement between the United Kingdom and Chile. Chile was  committed to the modernization of the 
Agreement, taking into account the trade and investment potential of both countries, and in line 
with the modernization process that Chile  was undertaking with the EU. Chile also look ed forward to 
successfully finalizing the GATT Article XXVIII process.  In conclusion, he thanked  the Secretariat and 
all the Members who ha d presented questions.  
1.12.  The representative of the European Union  welcome d the Agreement and wished the Parties  
success in the imple mentation of the Agreement.  
1.13.  The representative of the United States  thanked the  Parties and the Secretariat for the report 
and for providing transparency on th e Agreement.  
1.14.  The representative of Japan  welcome d the Association Agreement between the United 
Kingdom and Chile . He expressed appreciat ion for the Parties ' presentation of the Agreement and 
for the ir replies to Japan's  questions on the relation ship between the Agreement and the WTO 
Agreement  on Safeguards . 
1.15.  The representative of Canada  thanked the Parties for the transparency  provided . 
1.16.  The Chairman  noted the consideration of the Association Agreement between the United 
Kingdom and Chile had allowed the Committee to clarify a number of questions and conclude o ral 
discussion of the RTA in accordance with paragraph 11 of the Transparency Mechanism. Any 
delegations wishing to ask follow -up questions were invited to forward submissions in writing to the 
Secretariat by 4 July 2022 and the Parties were asked to submi t replies in writing by no later than 
18 July  2022. In accordance with paragraph 13 of the Transparency Mechanism all written 
submissions, as well as the minutes of the meeting would be circulated promptly, in all WTO official 
languages, and made available  on the WTO website.  
1.17.  The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
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