Chile Forum

I've searched the forums first maybe I'm just not any good at it.

I'm trying to get information on bringing retail goods in to Chile for resale. Home electronics possibly a few other things.
I don't have a problem paying import tariffs, obviously the lower the better but my goal isn't to cheat the system. I'm also not going to fight it if that's how the system works.

I have two ways I'm planning on bringing it in.

1) Santiago airport. If I have 20,000 USD worth of stuff can I just declare it and pay the import tariff right there? How accurately is it assessed etc?
What should I know / watch out for / avoid?

2)Via ship to Valpo. I've done international shipping and I'm familiar with how it all works. I've heard horrible and good things about Chile. Should I use a customs broker / anyone in particular? Anything else anyone thinks is good information? Or links to good information, English is better but Spanish if I have to.

Most of this is coming from the US.

If there is an old thread about this then sorry, I tried to search.

Thanks in advance.

I have been wondering the same thing myself, although I haven't attempted any serious research either.

Has anybody thought about investigating into looking at the Duty free zone in Panama then shipping it to Chile. I wonder if this would be worth it.

Use a commercial import broker as you normally would in any other country, you pay the duty on the real value of the product as per the Invoice and origin of manufacture declarations, if they think the invoice is cooked or the product says made in Japan and it origin declaration says Canada which has free trade, you have problems and cost doubles triples or the product is confiscated. The more you use a good broker the cheaper it gets and you will know exactly where your product is when you will get it and the total cost. The duty is based on what is charged for the class of goods you are importing, my experience has been with agricultural products which have low duties.

Exporting from a duty free zone like Panama has no advantage because you have to declare the origin of the product and duties are based on that.

Anyone you would recommend as a good broker?

Had several hired a middle managment guy from one several years ago. No I have no recommendations for brokers, they are all about the same most don’t have anyone who speaks english. For reputation ask at your embassy, that how I found our first brokers.