Chilean President Kast’s Bolivia Visit Targets Trade Pact Update, Energy Interconnection and Mining Cooperation

The centerpiece of the visit involves signing terms of reference to modernize the Economic Complementation Agreement ACE 22, in force since 1993. The updated framework aims to expand bilateral trade by incorporating trade facilitation measures, revised rules of origin, e-commerce provisions, barrier reduction and sanitary and phytosanitary mechanisms designed to boost Bolivian exports. Chile’s Consul General Roberto Ruiz indicated the visit would also yield a mining cooperation agreement, a pact connecting Bolivia to Chile’s Humboldt submarine fiber optic cable, and a declaration focused on electrical interconnection. The energy agenda includes advancing the second phase of the Sica Sica-Arica pipeline reversal and expanding storage capacity at Arica, measures Bolivian foreign ministry officials estimate could reduce logistics costs on that fuel import route by up to 35 percent.

Santa Cruz features prominently in the bilateral strategy given its productive and agroindustrial weight. Chile has proposed expanding port options for Bolivian cargo and improving connections to regional corridors, with Ruiz highlighting Mejillones port in Antofagasta as a platform with potential for Bolivian foreign trade, particularly eastern region agroindustrial exports. Chilean Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Tressler visited Bolivia on September 10-11 to review agenda progress before traveling to Santa Cruz for meetings with authorities and business leaders.

Security cooperation forms another pillar of the engagement. Presidents Paz and Kast agreed to strengthen information exchange and coordination between police, judicial authorities and public prosecutor offices to combat transnational crime, drug trafficking, contraband and human trafficking. Bolivia’s President Paz separately proposed developing Oruro’s dry port as an investment hub, emphasizing the importance of strengthening national production to capitalize on commercial agreements. Paz stressed that Oruro and Potosí represent key commercial gateways between the countries.

Bilateral contacts intensified throughout 2026 following Paz’s attendance at Kast’s March inauguration and a subsequent bilateral meeting during the June 30 Mercosur summit in Asunción, Paraguay. Both countries have advanced air connectivity and developed an agenda to improve border crossings, logistics corridors and port services.