India is pushing Chile for "something substantive" on critical mineral supplies, including copper and lithium, as the two countries seek to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by year-end.

Chile is the world's largest producer of mined copper and one of the world's leading lithium producers. Preferential access matters to India as it diversifies supplies of minerals needed for electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Despite agreeing to a separate chapter on critical minerals in the CEPA, Chile wants to focus on cooperation to secure supply chains and exports of value-added products rather than preferential access to raw materials. India wants at least some preferential treatment, making the issue a persistent sticking point.

"Some of the preferences recently sought by India for securing supplies have been mostly rejected by Chile on the grounds that they were not possible under Chile's existing laws," a source said.

Commercial interest is already growing: in November 2025, Chilean state miner Codelco and Kutch Copper, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, agreed to explore three copper projects in Chile.

India and Chile signed a preferential trade agreement in 2006, expanded in 2017. The CEPA under negotiation is expected to cover goods, critical minerals, services, digital services and investment.