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3/1/2024

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press Conference Following Bilateral Meeting Minister of Financ…

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press
Conference Following Bilateral Meeting Minister of Finance
Mario Marcel of Chile
March 1, 2024

As Prepared for Delivery
Good a ernoon. Iʼm very glad to have had the opportunity to meet with Minister Marcel today.
Our meeting today—and my trip to Chile—come in the context of an already strong bilateral
economic relationship.
The U.S. and Chile have had a Free Trade Agreement in place for 20 years, enabling substantial
trade and investment between our two countries. And just last year a Bilateral Tax Treaty
entered into force.
This treaty is a recognition of the significant investments that Americans have in Chile and the
welcome investments Chileans are making in the United States.
In fact, our tax treaty with Chile is the first such treaty the U.S. has entered into in a decade.
Now, we are building on this foundation and further deepening our economic ties and our
collaboration across a wide range of areas.
In my meeting with Minister Marcel today, we discussed the priorities shared by the U.S. and
Chile and the many additional opportunities for further collaboration between our countries.
This starts with each of our countryʼs ambitious climate goals and the tremendous joint
opportunity to build resilient and green supply chains.
At home in the United States, President Bidenʼs Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation
Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act are fueling massive investments in infrastructure,
clean energy, and manufacturing.
For example, tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act make it cheaper to invest in
energy-e iciency upgrades and buy electric vehicles.
Chile is pursuing its own impressive agenda, including leading the way as the first sovereign
issuer of green bonds in the region. I know that Chile recently received an award from Latin
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Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press Conference Following Bilateral Meeting Minister of Financ…

Finance on its impressive program for sustainable bonds.
Chileʼs leadership in this space was on display today in the fascinating discussion I had with
Minister Marcel and several private sector firms that are helping to drive Chileʼs green
transition.
I commend the minister and his whole team for their strong e orts to keep Chile at the
vanguard of this exciting space.
Furthering both our climate agendas—and our energy security—also depends on building
green and resilient supply chains, involving both the U.S. and Chile.
As a leading producer of both copper and lithium, Chile has a critical role to play in the supply
chains that will power our worldʼs transition to clean energy. American companies are
investing. And we see opportunities to further integrate our supply chains with benefits for
both our economies.
Our ongoing and potential collaboration also extends far beyond clean energy.
As one example, I a irm Treasuryʼs interest in supporting Chileʼs commitment to increasing
foreign direct investment and protecting its national security through continued collaboration
on investment screening best practices.
And there is significant scope for Chile and the United States to work together in the context
of multilateral forums such as the Inter-American Development Bank.
We are working together, for example, to approve a new ambitious Institutional Strategy for
the Bank next month, as well as a historic capital increase that would double the size of its
private sector arm, IDB Invest.
These e orts will provide crucial financing to the region, including to advance investments in
clean energy.
There are of course many other areas of possible cooperation as well.
I again congratulate Minister Marcel on his leadership and look forward to further
collaboration between the U.S. Treasury Department and Ministry of Finance as we continue
to move forward on our many shared priorities.
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