free trade agreement

EU-MERCOSUR FTA signed in Asuncion 17 January 2026. For a new partnership

Gennaio 19, 2026 /

At Dogana Sostenibile we would start the study of the FTA between MERCOSUR and the UE from some of the “Questions and answers on the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement”. We would offer a guide to the EU exporters and customs experts.

What will the agreement mean for trade in goods?

Mercosur will abolish import tariffs on European goods and remove obstacles to EU exports, such as:

  • unnecessarily restrictive rules and regulations that differ from international standards;
  • non-automatic import licences;
  • burdensome conformity assessment procedures.

Making it easier to export to Mercosur will benefit, in particular, EU firms making and selling:

  • Agri-food products;
  • Machinery;
  • Pharmaceuticals;
  • Cars;
  • Textiles and clothing.

The more Europe exports, the more jobs it can safeguard and create.

How will the agreement help small businesses?

Trade barriers disproportionately affect smaller businesses more than large companies, because small firms may not have the time and resources to overcome them. This is why the EU has ensured that the Agreement contains a dedicated chapter for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to address the specific challenges they face in trade and investment activities.

The EU wants the agreement to:

  • make Mercosur regulations more transparent;
  • simplify Mercosur customs procedures.

Already today, over 30,000 EU SMEs export to Mercosur. By making trade and investment with Mercosur easier, more small businesses will unlock new opportunities and expand their customer base

How will the agreement benefit the EU agri-food sector?

[…] Mercosur has great consumer potential for high-quality European products such as wines, cheese, dairy and pork, which are currently subject to high tariffs.

For example:

  • Wine: 27%
  • Sparkling wines: 20-35%
  • Spirits – 20-35%
  • Chocolate: 20%
  • Whiskey and other spirits: 20-35%
  • Pastries, waffles and biscuits: 18%
  • Canned peaches: 55%
  • Soft drinks: 20-35%.

Architecture of the Deal & Next Steps

Why did you choose this architecture?

There will be an EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement, and while it undergoes ratification by the 27

Member States, the interim Trade Agreement will apply.

This preserves the integrity of the new agreement, keeping it as a single comprehensive agreement

as originally negotiated.

It allows those new enhanced trade arrangements which are of exclusive EU competence to enter fully into force very rapidly, with greater legal certainty and economic benefits for economic operators; and Respects established competence and prerogatives among the institutional actors in the EU.

How much control do elected governments and MEPs have over the whole process?

The 27 MS’ elected governments and the MEPs have had full control over the agreement, and the possibility for their views to be taken into account at every step of the negotiations.

The European Commission negotiated on behalf of the EU in line with a mandate granted to it by the governments of the EU’s 27 Member States.

The Commission has always ensured that the negotiation process is accountable to EU Member States and to the European Parliament.

The EU Commissioners concerned as well as the Commission negotiators and services:

  • work together with EU Member States to prepare the negotiations and negotiating texts;
  • report back to Member States meeting in the Council on how the negotiations are going;
  • keep the European Parliament updated of developments;

and appear before the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee.

The European Parliament also set up a special Monitoring Group to follow the negotiations. The Commission has regularly reported on the state of play of the negotiations to this group, as well as to the European Parliament Delegations responsible for relations with Mercosur and Brazil.  The Decision to sign and conclude the agreement is taken by the 27 elected governments of the Member States sitting together in the Council. This decision requires a qualified majority. When  the Council has voted, the European Parliament must give its consent. After EP consent the Council concludes the EU ratification process for the interim trade agreement, allowing it to enter into force. The EMPA will still be subject to national ratification in the 27 Member States”.

For any need of analysis please check on:

  1. SICE;
  2. EU press release “EU and Mercosur sign historic and ambitious partnership“;