The Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, announced the start of the paperless phytosanitary certification between Chile and the United States. This means that the products of plant origin being marketed between both countries will only require an electronic certificate to enter the destination country. This will streamline the export process and decrease its costs. It also represents a significant advance because, as Walker pointed out, "the United States is a strategic partner for Chile, as more than a third of our fresh fruit is destined to that market."
“The development and implementation of electronic certification between the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is great news, especially at this time when we need to facilitate international trade, apply technological tools to simplify these exchanges and offer solutions to our producers," he added.
The main products that Chile exports to the United States are grapes, followed by oranges, mandarins, apples, and blueberries, among others.
In 2019 Chile exported 871,880 tons of plant products to the US. So far, this year, the country has shipped 490,790 tons of these products to that destination.