EU to Provisionally Apply Mercosur Trade Pact as Uruguay and Argentina Ratify

Overview

• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal will take effect on a provisional basis, removing roughly €4 billion in tariffs on EU exports.
• Uruguay and Argentina completed ratification on Feb. 26, with Uruguay’s lower house voting 91–2 and Argentina’s Senate approving the text 69–3.
• Brazil’s Chamber cleared the pact in a symbolic vote as the Senate readies an expedited review under rapporteur Tereza Cristina and the government prepares safeguard rules.
• Full EU ratification remains uncertain after MEPs referred the agreement to the EU Court of Justice, with France leading opposition as President Emmanuel Macron criticized the Commission’s step.
• The Commission set no start date, but procedural timelines point to the earliest application in April or May if formalities conclude, and Paraguay is also moving its ratification forward.