Resources

Chile is Latin America’s most trade‑open economy, with a network of over 30 trade agreements that cover more than 90% of its exports. Chile maintains a favorable trade and investment environment for Virginia companies, supported by the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement - the U.S. is Chile’s second largest export destination (15.9%) and top import source (20%). Virginia companies looking to do business in Chile should partner with local distributors/agents familiar with regulations, language, and logistics, establish joint ventures or local representative offices, and leverage FTA benefits and Chile’s pro-business environment for easier market penetration. Target sectors for Virginia companies include agricultural machinery and equipment, agricultural products, aquaculture and forestry products, energy, environmental technologies, IT and digital services, mining equipment and machinery, safety and security solutions, manufacturing and food processing, and tourism and exportable services.

Although Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are independent countries with distinct languages, cultures, economic and national policies, they bear similarities in size, geography, demography, economic development and structure, and are often perceived and approached as a single territory—the Baltics. Located in northeastern Europe, the Baltics share borders with Russia to the east and are surrounded by the Baltic Sea to the west and north. The business environment in the Baltics is generally favorable to foreign businesses, with transparent legal frameworks, low levels of corruption (particularly in Estonia), and English widely spoken in the business community. Key markets for exporters seeking expansion in the Baltics include defense, healthcare, power sector transformation & decarbonization, ICT and cybersecurity, the agricultural and food sector, and transport and logistics.

VEDP's Supply Chain Program team brings you a curated snapshot of the latest insights, trends, and developments shaping the global supply chain world. This edition focuses on tariffs and exploring strategies that businesses can use to reduce their impact.

Poland is home to the largest economy in Central and Eastern Europe and continues to grow. The Polish GDP in 2025 is $980B. Excluding 2020, the country has grown in GDP every year since 1992. This resilient and competitive economy is led by strong performance in the sectors of food & beverage, automotive, chemicals, electronics, and furniture. Poland is an advanced manufacturing hub in Europe, meriting a need for new technologies and materials via imports. Innovation and modernization projects are occurring in the agricultural, defense, and transportation sectors, while demand increases for clean energy. Given the country’s NATO membership and geographic location, Poland’s military is important globally and provides numerous opportunities for trade engagement. U.S. exporters will benefit from local expertise and experience as they navigate these markets, but Poland’s sizeable business and consumer markets are generally open to many industries and products.