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| National Customs Service (Chile) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Servicio Nacional de Aduanas |
| Native name | Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Preceding1 | Dirección General de Aduanas |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of Chile |
| Headquarters | Santiago |
| Minister1 name | Minister of Finance |
| Chief1 name | Director General |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Finance (Chile) |
| Website | Official website |
National Customs Service (Chile) is the statutory customs authority of the Republic of Chile charged with administering import and export controls, collecting duties and taxes, and enforcing trade-related regulation at the nation's ports, airports, and border crossings. It operates within the fiscal framework of the Ministry of Finance (Chile) and interacts with regional and international institutions such as the World Customs Organization and the World Trade Organization. The agency plays a central role in Chile's integration with multilateral agreements like the Pacific Alliance and numerous bilateral free trade agreements.
The origins trace to colonial trade regulations under the Captaincy General of Chile and later customs offices established during the Republic's early independence period; reforms during the Conservative Republic and Liberal Republic eras set precedents for modern tariff administration. In the 20th century, the Dirección General de Aduanas reformed following the 1925 Constitution and later structural change enacted in the 1970s parallels reforms in the Ministry of Finance (Chile) and the Central Bank of Chile. The 1980s neoliberal policy shifts associated with the Chicago Boys and economic plans influenced tariff policy, alongside international milestones such as accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and later participation in the World Trade Organization. During the 1990s and 2000s, Chile's network of free trade agreements with the United States, European Union, China, and Korea reshaped customs procedures and modernization efforts tied to initiatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank.
The agency is administratively attached to the Ministry of Finance (Chile) and led by a Director General appointed in accordance with Chilean law; internal divisions mirror functional units found in counterparts like the United States Customs and Border Protection and the United Kingdom's HM Revenue and Customs. Regional directorates operate at ports including Valparaíso, San Antonio, and Antofagasta and at airports such as Arturo Merino Benítez. Specialized units collaborate with institutions like the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Servicio de Impuestos Internos, and Chilean Navy for maritime control, and with the Carabineros de Chile for land-border operations. Operational headquarters in Santiago coordinate with customs offices at Paso Internacional Los Libertadores and Paso de Agua Negra.
Primary functions include administration of tariffs and import duties, tariff classification consistent with the Harmonized System, prevention of illicit trade such as contraband and counterfeit goods, and collection of trade statistics reported to the World Customs Organization. The service enforces sanitary and phytosanitary measures in cooperation with Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, controls prohibited substances referenced by the Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, and implements preferential origin verification under agreements like the Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It also executes customs valuation per standards coordinated with the World Trade Organization and supports revenue mobilization overseen by the Ministry of Finance (Chile) and Central Bank of Chile.
The agency operates under statutes enacted by the National Congress of Chile, notably the Chilean Customs Code and complementary legislation promulgated by the President of Chile. Regulatory instruments include presidential decrees and Ministerial resolutions issued by the Ministry of Finance (Chile), and judicial review occurs within the Chilean court system including administrative tribunals and the Supreme Court of Chile. International legal commitments derive from treaties such as free trade agreements with the European Union, China, and members of the Pacific Alliance, and obligations under multilateral frameworks like the World Trade Organization. The legal regime interacts with sectoral laws administered by the Servicio de Impuestos Internos, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, and the Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics.
Day-to-day operations encompass cargo inspection at container terminals in Valparaíso and San Antonio, risk management systems modeled on international best practice from the World Customs Organization, and use of non-intrusive inspection technologies similar to those deployed by Port Authority counterparts in Rotterdam and Singapore. Enforcement actions include seizures coordinated with the Public Prosecutor's Office, interdictions with Police units such as Carabineros de Chile, and administrative sanctions adjudicated through Chilean administrative courts. Programs for authorized economic operators align with standards from the World Customs Organization and the World Trade Organization to facilitate trade while ensuring compliance. Training and capacity-building occur in partnership with the International Monetary Fund, Inter-American Development Bank, and bilateral cooperation with agencies such as the United States Customs and Border Protection.
The service maintains partnerships with the World Customs Organization, World Trade Organization, and regional bodies like the Pacific Alliance. Bilateral cooperation agreements exist with customs administrations of Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and Mexico, and technical assistance has been provided through multilateral initiatives involving the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank. Cooperation spans information exchange, joint operations against transnational organized crime, and harmonization of customs procedures under agreements negotiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chile) and the Ministry of Finance (Chile).
The agency has faced criticisms in parliamentary debates and media reporting concerning allegations of corruption, delays in clearance at major ports affecting exporters such as mining and agricultural firms, and disputes over valuation and origin rulings under free trade agreements. Investigations involving the Public Prosecutor's Office and administrative challenges brought before the Supreme Court of Chile and oversight reviews by the Comptroller General of the Republic have at times prompted calls for reform. Stakeholders including chambers of commerce, exporters' associations, labor unions, and civil society organizations have advocated for greater transparency, modernization, and stronger anti-corruption safeguards.
Category:Government agencies of Chile Category:Customs services Category:Law enforcement in Chile