Washington, DC - The United States and Chile will reaffirm their commitment to work together to preserve and protect the environment at the seventh meeting of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Environmental Affairs Council (Council) and the fifth meeting of the U.S.-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation (Commission) in Washington, D.C. on August 13.

U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith G. Garber and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources Jennifer Prescott will co-lead the United States delegation and co-chair the meetings.

Waldemar Coutts, Director of Environment and Maritime Affairs in Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will co-chair the Commission. Angelica Romero, Head of Energy, Trade, and Sustainable Development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Directorate of International Economic Relations, will co-chair the Council for Chile.

As part of these meetings, Commission and Council members will also host a public session to discuss the implementation of the FTA’s Environment Chapter, as well as the results of environmental cooperation activities in Chile.

Since the United States and Chile signed the Environmental Cooperation Agreement in 2003, the United States has dedicated more than $4 million to support trade-related projects in Chile under this agreement. Joint efforts have brought more than 22 million hectares of land under improved natural resource management; reached approximately 30,000 people though informational guides to promote public participation; and trained over 2,700 people in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental enforcement.

The success of our bilateral cooperation demonstrates how increased trade and stronger environmental protection can be complementary and supportive.