A GUIDE TO CONDUCTING BUSINESS ALONG THE HOUSTON, TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO, CHILE TRADE CORRIDOR

This Guide describes both the logistics chain and steps that need to be taken to conduct business between the United States and Chile along the sea corridor joining the port of Houston, Texas and the port of San Antonio in Chile. To that end, the Guide is structured in three general sections. The first section provides an overview of Houston-San Antonio trade and describes the network of physical, commercial, and service infrastructure that exists in each port. The second section describes the logistics chain (southbound) along which goods move from the U.S. to Chile through the Port of Houston, including a description of the steps involved in exporting to Chile as well as the actors and services involved. The third section describes the logistics chain (northbound) along which commodities are transported from Chile to the U.S. through the Port of San Antonio including a description of the steps involved in importing into the United States. It specifies the actors, services, and requirements for importing into the U.S. using the Houston, Texas-San Antonio, Chile trade corridor. The corridor study is especially relevant now that the United States and Chile have signed a free trade agreement which is expected to increase the volume of trade and investment between the two countries, especially via maritime. The final chapter of this Guide provides an overview of the recent U.S.-Chile free trade agreement.