The protocol upgrading the free trade agreement (FTA) between Peru and China takes effect on Sunday, November 1, 2026, under Supreme Decree 012-2026-MINCETUR, published on Tuesday, October 27, in an extraordinary edition of the official gazette, Gestión reported. The protocol modernizes seven chapters of the agreement in force since 2010 and adds five new ones, including e-commerce, customs cooperation and supply chains.
China is Peru's main trading partner: it accounts for about 35% of its foreign trade, according to Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) data for August 2026 cited by Perú Retail. This article explains what the upgrade changes, how much Peru exports to China and which sectors could gain.
What changes with the upgraded Peru-China FTA
| Type of change | Chapters | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Modernized chapters (7) | Rules of origin; customs procedures and trade facilitation; trade in services; temporary entry of business people; investment; intellectual property; sanitary and phytosanitary measures | Update 2010 rules and simplify procedures |
| New chapters (5) | E-commerce; competition; global supply chains; cooperation on standards and conformity assessment; environment | Add topics that did not exist in the original agreement |
Sources: Perú Retail, with information from the Peru-China Chamber of Commerce (Capechi), and Gestión. The full text is on Mincetur's Peru Trade Agreements portal. The protocol does not replace the current FTA: it amends some of its rules and adds chapters. Foreign Trade Minister Rogers Valencia told Gestión that the protocol covers 12 chapters in total; Gestión also mentions provisions on the digital economy and investment.
Among the concrete changes, the supply chain chapter provides for sharing information on logistics indicators and recognizing transport documents, and the intellectual property chapter adds protection for geographical indications, which identify products linked to a specific territory, according to Perú Retail.
How much Peru exports to China
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Peru's exports to China in 2025 | US$33.496 billion (+34% on 2024) | Gestión, with Sunat and Mincetur data |
| Exports January-August 2026 | More than US$28.261 billion (+40% year on year) | Gestión |
| Of which, mining products | Almost US$26.2 billion (+50%) | Gestión |
| Share of mining in exports to China | More than 90% | Gestión |
| Companies exporting to China | 668 in 2026 (758 in 2025) | Gestión |
| China's share of Peru's trade | About 35% | Perú Retail, with Mincetur data |
Sources: Gestión and Perú Retail. The 2025 figures do not match across outlets: Perú Retail reports US$32.6 billion exported to China in 2025, while Gestión, with Sunat data compiled by Mincetur, reports US$33.496 billion. The main products are copper, gold, lead and silver concentrates; the largest exporters are mining companies such as Antamina, Las Bambas, Chinalco, Quellaveco and Cerro Verde.
Which sectors could gain from the Peru-China FTA
- Small exporters: customs cooperation and recognition of certificates of origin should lower costs and paperwork, according to Minister Valencia.
- Agriculture and fishing: Mincetur names them as the main beneficiaries outside mining.
- Technology, timber and paper: Valencia named them as areas with growth potential.
- Services: the services chapter seeks investment in telecommunications and multimodal transport, and promotes audiovisual co-productions using Peruvian locations.
Former minister Mercedes Aráoz, under whose tenure the original agreement was signed, told Gestión the upgrade is timely given the "low use" of the treaty. The challenge is diversification: today more than 90% of what Peru sells to China is minerals.
China, Peru's main trading partner
Trade with China has grown strongly in recent years, driven by metal prices. According to Gestión, Peru's exports to China in 2025 were 146% higher than in 2019, and the number of companies exporting to that market went from just over 600 in 2019 to 758 in 2025. So far in 2026 there are 668.
| Main Peruvian exporters to China | Sector |
|---|---|
| Compañía Minera Antamina | Mining (copper and zinc) |
| Minera Las Bambas | Mining (copper) |
| Trafigura Perú | Mineral trading |
| Minera Chinalco | Mining (copper) |
| Anglo American Quellaveco | Mining (copper) |
| Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde | Mining (copper) |
| Glencore Perú | Mineral trading |
| Shougang Hierro Perú | Mining (iron) |
Source: ADEX Data Trade, cited by Gestión, without amounts per company. Several of these miners have Chinese capital, such as Las Bambas (MMG), Chinalco and Shougang. The concentration in a few mining companies explains why the government is focusing the protocol on easing access for small businesses and non-traditional products.
History of the FTA between Peru and China
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 28, 2009 | FTA signed in Beijing |
| December 6, 2009 | Ratified by Supreme Decree 092-2009-RE |
| March 1, 2010 | FTA enters into force |
| October 27, 2026 | Publication of DS 012-2026-MINCETUR putting the protocol into effect |
| November 1, 2026 | Upgrade protocol enters into force |
Source: Gestión. The upgrade comes as Keiko Fujimori's government seeks foreign investment and higher public spending (see the S/ 8.228 billion supplementary budget). The relationship with China also runs through the Chancay megaport, operated by Chinese state-owned Cosco Shipping.
Frequently asked questions
When does the upgraded Peru-China FTA take effect?
On November 1, 2026, under Supreme Decree 012-2026-MINCETUR.
What changes in the FTA with China?
Seven chapters are modernized, such as rules of origin, customs, services and investment, and five new ones are added, such as e-commerce, supply chains and the environment.
How much does Peru export to China?
US$33.496 billion in 2025 according to Gestión (another source reports US$32.6 billion) and more than US$28.261 billion between January and August 2026.
What does Peru export to China?
Mostly minerals: copper, gold, lead and silver concentrates, which make up more than 90% of shipments.
Since when has Peru had an FTA with China?
Since March 1, 2010. It was signed in Beijing on April 28, 2009.
