The National Government, through the General Resolution 5649/2025, has consolidated the current provisions into a single standard applicable to the Special Customs Area (AAE) in the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands. This AAE was created by Law No. 19.640 of 1972 and covers the entire territory of the Big Island of Tierra del FuegoThis is an island area located in the southernmost part of the country, far from the main population and consumption centres, which is subject to an economic promotion regime aimed at fostering its development.
El Article 3 of the Customs Code defines a Special Customs Area as a territory in which a special system of tariffs and economic restrictions apply to imports and exports. Thus, in this area, imported foreign goods and exported originating products enjoy more favourable customs treatment compared to the rest of the country (with the exception of free trade zones).
The new resolution integrates and updates the provisions of General Resolution 709/1999, which regulates import and export operations in the area, and General Resolution 744/1999, which establishes the procedures for the registration and processing of destinations provided for in RG 709/1999.
According to the grounds of the regulation, published today (11.02.2025) in the Official Gazette, its objective is to optimize the control of international trade, adapting it to the current operational needs of the General Directorate of Customs. The aim is to balance security with the facilitation of operations, creating an updated regulatory framework that covers all operations arising from the evolution of the current regime, including those that do not have a specific computerized destination or are managed through alternative procedures.
To this end, the The main aspects of the regulations are:
- Regulation of customs destinations and sub-regimes
Specific procedures are established for customs destinations, sub-regimes and other operations that regulate the traffic of goods within and outside the Special Customs Area. These procedures are detailed in the Annex I of the resolution. - Procedure, registration and control
All customs operations covered by this regulation must be processed, registered and controlled in accordance with the provisions of the Annex II, ensuring orderly and transparent management. - Traffic of goods in transit through Chile
Goods transiting from and to the Special Customs Area through Chilean territory must be documented using a MIC/DTA (International Cargo Manifest/Customs Transit Declaration), in accordance with the ALADI International Land Transport Agreement. - Temporary import with transformation
Cancellation of temporary import suspension destinations will be allowed through export to the Special Customs Area, provided that the national added value of the final product is equal to or greater than that of the imported inputs. These operations must be documented under the EC03 or EG03 subregimes and will be exempt from export taxes.
On the other hand, cancellation through other sub-regimes (EC02, EG02, EC04 and EC16) will not be permitted, as provided for in Law No. 19.640.
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