Canada and Chile advance critical minerals partnership to diversify trade, grow our economy and create jobs

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SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canada and Chile share a long-standing strategic partnership built on shared democratic values, strong economic ties and a commitment to sustainable growth and innovation. Canada is the largest foreign investor in Chile, reflecting the close economic relationship between our two countries. As leading mining nations, Canada and Chile are working together to advance responsible resource development, strengthen critical mineral supply chains and create new opportunities for trade and investment.

This week, Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, represented Canada at the Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas (CAMMA) in Santiago, Chile. Parliamentary Secretary Guay advanced commercial opportunities for Canadian mining companies and reinforced Canada's position as a reliable partner of choice when it comes to secure and sustainable minerals and a globally competitive destination for investment.

Parliamentary Secretary Guay met with senior Chilean officials, including the Minister of Economy and Mining and vice-ministers responsible for mining, energy and foreign affairs. He also held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Argentina and Mexico. Discussions focused on catalyzing bilateral investment, promoting Canadian products and industry, supporting mining sector innovation and expanding collaboration across the Americas on responsible mining and critical minerals.

He also met with industry leaders, including from Codelco, Antofagasta Minerals, CORFO, Teck and MineSense, and participated in roundtables with Canadian and Chilean companies and mining services operating in Chile to discuss investment and market opportunities.

Parliamentary Secretary Guay also participated in the announcement of initiatives and commercial partnerships that reflect the growing economic ties between Canada and Chile, including:

• An agreement between Codelco, Chile's state-owned copper producer, and Canadian company MacLean Engineering to accelerate innovative technologies for underground mining operations that will strengthen worker safety and contribute to more efficient and sustainable underground mining.
  • The five-year collaboration will focus on three key areas: trench scaling, tunnel development and the deployment of service infrastructure.
  • The agreement will support the testing and implementation of solutions tailored to the operational and safety requirements of El Teniente, one of the world's largest underground copper mines.
• Canada's support, through the G7 Minerals Skills Network, for critical minerals capacity-building across Latin America and the Caribbean, including:
  • a hybrid training program, with an in-person component in Santiago, Chile, to strengthen public-sector capacities for critical minerals development; and
  • a seminar on Financial and Economic Planning for Sustainable Critical Mineral Projects, to be held in Santiago in late 2026.
• The first Canada–Chile Eureka project, a contribution of up to $450,000 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to Cheetah Networks, an Ottawa-based company specializing in network analytics and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity solutions to support collaboration with Chilean partners. This project, in collaboration with Chile's development agency, CORFO, will develop sustainable, resilient and energy-efficient solutions to improve connectivity, productivity and safety for critical infrastructure and mining operations.
•  An announcement that, in October 2026, NRC IRAP, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), will lead the Canadian Cleantech in Mining Mission to Chile of 12 innovative Canadian companies. This mission will help them enter the Chilean market, strengthen their commercial readiness and accelerate the deployment of scalable, cost-effective solutions to address key challenges in the Chilean mining sector, including water management, decarbonization, energy efficiency and environmental performance.

Parliamentary Secretary Guay also highlighted progress being made under the Canada–Chile Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Critical Minerals and the Sustainable Development of Minerals and Metals, including initiatives that support innovation, skills development and commercial partnerships. Since 2024, the MOU has been instrumental in connecting Canadian companies and technologies with opportunities in one of the world's leading mining jurisdictions while supporting sustainable economic growth and competitiveness in both countries. Notable achievements to date include the launch of the first bilateral Canada–Chile Eureka Network call for applied research and development projects and capacity-building initiatives delivered through the G7 Minerals Skills Network, the University of British Columbia's Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining (BRIMM) and the international Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The Parliamentary Secretary's participation at the conference and his meetings with government officials and industry leaders reinforced Canada's role as a reliable global partner and opened opportunities for further collaboration between Canada and Chile. By advancing co-operation with Chile and countries across the Americas, Canada is diversifying our international partners, identifying reliable markets for our minerals and businesses, strengthening critical minerals supply chains and supporting long-term economic prosperity and security for Canadians.

Quote

"In a time of uncertainty and changing trade and economic relationships worldwide, Canada is expanding and strengthening our network around the world. These efforts ensure we have the minerals our economies need, diversify and secure our trade and create opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses. Canada and Chile share a strong and long-standing partnership built on investment, responsible resource development, innovation and shared economic interests. This trip reinforced for our Chilean partners that Canada is a partner of choice for investment, business and collaboration."

Claude Guay
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Quick Facts

• Chile is a key partner for Canada and a leading global mining jurisdiction, with significant production of critical minerals, including copper and lithium. Canada is the largest foreign investor in Chile's mining sector, with approximately C$43.5 billion in assets in 2024 held by about 52 companies, and Chile is the second-largest destination for Canadian mining assets abroad.
• The strong bilateral relationship is underpinned by the Canada–Chile Free Trade Agreement and the 2024 Canada–Chile Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals and the Sustainable Development of Minerals and Metals, which advances co-operation on critical mineral value chains, innovation, investment and responsible mining. Together, Canada and Chile are working to strengthen secure and sustainable mineral supply chains that support the global energy transition.
• On the margins of the CAMMA, Parliamentary Secretary Claude Guay met with several Chilean officials, including:
  • Daniel Mas, Chile's Minister of Economy and Mining, and Alvaro Gonzalez Gorroño, Undersecretary of Mining, to advance Canada–Chile co-operation on critical minerals and sustainable mining under the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding; 
  • Hugo Briones, Undersecretary of Energy, to discuss energy co-operation and opportunities for Canadian clean energy and nuclear technology expertise; and
  • Paula Estévez, Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, to discuss critical minerals supply chain resilience and broader Canada–Chile co-operation.

Associated Links

• Canada–Chile relations
• Our critical minerals strategic partnerships
• Global Partnerships Initiative
• Federal Investments Support B.C. Talent and Labour Development for Critical Minerals and Sustainable Supply Chains

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Contacts: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6096, [email protected]; Charlotte Power, Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, [email protected]