PH looks 18,000 km away to Brazil, Chile for food, trade security

Despite a distance of nearly 18,000 to 19,000 kilometers, the Philippines is reaching across the globe to Brazil and Chile as it seeks more diversified sources of food, strategic industrial inputs and investments, while opening new markets and strengthening its diplomatic footprint in Latin America.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro is in Brazil and Chile from August 10 to 13 as Manila marks 80 years of diplomatic relations with two of South America’s most strategically important economies.

The visit comes as the Philippines seeks to reduce its dependence on a limited number of markets and suppliers and build stronger economic links beyond its traditional partners in Asia, North America and Europe.

Brazil, South America’s largest economy and an agricultural powerhouse, offers the Philippines opportunities to deepen cooperation in food and nutrition security, agricultural technology, livestock and feed supply, biofuels, renewable energy, defense, science and innovation.

Closer ties with Brazil could also give the Philippines greater flexibility in sourcing essential food and agricultural products during global supply disruptions, while expanding cooperation in farm technology and agricultural research.

Chile, meanwhile, provides the Philippines a strategic Pacific-facing gateway to Latin America. Its importance has grown following the conclusion of negotiations for the Philippines-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is intended to become the Philippines’ first free trade agreement with a Latin American country.

The agreement is expected to go beyond traditional merchandise trade and cover services, investments, intellectual property, digital trade, labor, environment and micro, small and medium enterprises.

Chile is also an important global producer of copper, a critical input for electronics, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing — industries central to the Philippines’ industrialization ambitions.

Lazaro began her Brazil leg in São Paulo, the country’s largest city and financial center, where her itinerary included engagements with business leaders and a foreign policy lecture at the University of São Paulo.

She then proceeded to Brasília for bilateral talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and a Regional Consultation Meeting with the five Philippine ambassadors posted in Latin America.

In Santiago, Lazaro is scheduled to call on Chilean President José Antonio Kast and meet Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna.

Beyond economic interests, the two countries offer Manila complementary strategic partnerships.

Brazil provides scale and opportunities in agriculture, food security, defense, science, energy and broader Global South diplomacy. The Philippines and Brazil have an existing defense cooperation framework and have also identified food security, climate action, renewable energy and sustainable biofuels as areas for collaboration.

Chile, on the other hand, is one of Latin America’s most open and trade-oriented economies, with strong links to the Asia-Pacific. It can serve as a bridge for Philippine businesses seeking opportunities in Latin America while the Philippines offers Chile a gateway to ASEAN.

The engagement also gives Manila greater diplomatic reach at a time when food and energy security, supply-chain resilience and geopolitical tensions are pushing countries to diversify their international partnerships.

The Philippines established diplomatic relations with both Brazil and Chile on July 4, 1946. Eight decades later, the challenge is turning those longstanding ties — and the enormous geographic distance separating them — into practical economic and strategic partnerships.