EU-Mercosur Agreement to provisionally apply from 1 May 2026
The European Union has today notified to the Mercosur countries the instrument of provisional application for the EU-Mercosur interim Trade Agreement (iTA).
By sending its “note verbale” to Paraguay, the legal guardian of the Mercosur treaties, the European Commission has taken the final procedural step required for provisional application, in line with the Council Decision of 9 January.
The iTA will thus apply provisionally from 1 May between the EU and all Mercosur countries that complete their ratification procedures and notified the EU before the end of March – Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have already done so. Paraguay has recently ratified the agreement and is expected to send its notification soon.
Provisional application ensures the removal of tariffs on certain products as of day one, creating predictable rules for trade and investment. EU businesses, consumers and farmers can thus start reaping the benefits of the deal immediately, while sensitive sectors of the EU economy are fully protected by robust safeguards.
Provisional application will also ensure stronger EU-Mercosur collaboration on pressing global issues such as labour rights and climate change. It will create more resilient and reliable supply chains, crucial in particular for the predictable flow of Critical Raw Materials.
Exporters will be able to learn more on how to profit from this deal via the Access2Markets platform. All information will be available soon online.
Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said: “Today is an important step in demonstrating our credibility as a major trading partner. The priority now is turning this EU-Mercosur agreement into concrete outcomes, giving EU exporters the platform they need to seize new opportunities for trade, growth and jobs. Provisional application will allow us to begin delivering on that promise. I look forward to seeing this agreement fulfil its potential, strengthening our economy and reinforcing our position in global trade, while we complete all democratic procedures.”
