The European Union has officially notified the Mercosur states of the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (iTA), meaning the agreement can enter into force on 1 May 2026. This is subject to the participating countries having completed their domestic ratification procedures and notified the EU of this in due time. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have already fulfilled this condition, whilst Paraguay is expected to submit the relevant notification shortly. With the submission of the necessary documents, the final formal step on the EU side has been completed.

Elimination of tariffs and protection of sensitive sectors

With the start of provisional application, tariffs on selected goods will be abolished immediately, enabling businesses to benefit from clear and predictable trading conditions. This brings benefits to exporters, the agricultural sector and consumers alike. At the same time, the agreement provides for targeted safeguard mechanisms for sensitive economic sectors within the EU in order to limit potential market distortions.

Strengthening supply chains and international cooperation

A key objective of the agreement is to improve the stability of supply chains, particularly with regard to critical raw materials. In addition, cooperation between the partners on global issues such as labour rights and climate protection will be stepped up. This is intended not only to facilitate trade, but also to strengthen the EU’s strategic position in the face of international competition.

Practical implementation for businesses and customs clearance

For operational implementation, the ‘Access2Markets’ platform provided by the European Commission will in future offer detailed information on customs benefits, rules of origin and specific applications. Relevant data is expected to be available in the ROSA tool even before the launch date. The declaration of origin on commercial documents serves as proof of origin. For consignments with a value of over €6,000, registration in the REX system is required. Existing registrations are expected to remain valid.

The Interim Trade Agreement (iTA), which will apply from May 2026, covers the trade section of the EMPA Partnership Agreement and will remain in force until the latter enters into full force.

Source: European Commission