On 5 December 1996, in Santiago, Canada and the Republic of Chile signed the Free Trade Agreement, in duplicate, in English, French and Spanish, equally authentic. Article A-01: a free trade area, consistent with Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and Article V of GATS, which form part of the Marrakesh Agreement. Article P-03 provides for entry into force on 2 June 1997, on an exchange of written notifications certifying completion of necessary legal procedures. Chilean Decree No. 1.020 of 3 July 1997 promulgated the treaty; SICE and the agreement index record effective entry into force on 5 July 1997. The parallel agreements on environmental cooperation and labour cooperation were signed in Ottawa on 6 February 1997, not on this day.

The preamble: clear and mutually advantageous rules, a predictable commercial framework for business planning and investment, rights and obligations under the WTO, environmental protection, basic workers’ rights, facilitation of Chile’s accession to NAFTA, and hemispheric integration. Article A-02: eliminate barriers to trade in goods and services; promote fair competition; increase investment opportunities; create procedures for administration and dispute settlement; establish a framework for further cooperation. The Parties shall interpret and apply the Agreement in the light of those objectives and applicable rules of international law. The principles include national treatment, most-favoured-nation treatment and transparency.

Article C-01: national treatment for goods, incorporating Article III of GATT 1994; with respect to a Canadian province, treatment no less favourable than the most favourable treatment accorded by that province to like Canadian goods. Article C-02: neither Party may increase any existing customs duty or adopt any customs duty on a good, except as otherwise provided; each shall progressively eliminate customs duties in accordance with its Schedule to Annex C-02.2; the Parties shall consult, on request, to consider accelerating elimination. Cultural industries are carved out, except as specifically provided in Article C-02. Article C-03: no new waiver of customs duties conditioned on a performance requirement.

Chapter G: investment; Article G-02, national treatment. Chapter H: cross-border trade in services. Article N-01: a Free Trade Commission of cabinet-level representatives or their designees; it shall supervise implementation, oversee further elaboration, resolve disputes and supervise committees; decisions by mutual agreement. Article P-04: the Parties shall work toward the early accession of Chile to NAFTA. Article P-05: the Agreement remains in force unless terminated on six months’ notice. Annexes, Appendices and Notes form integral parts.

Palacio de La Moneda, Santiago. The city of signature, not the signing hall. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

For context: Canada–Chile Free Trade Agreement. The text: SICE/OAS, Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement.