EU-Mercosur Agreement to Provisionally Apply from May 1, 2026

The European Union has officially notified Mercosur countries of the instrument for the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (iTA).

By sending its “note verbale” to Paraguay, the legal custodian of Mercosur treaties, the European Commission has completed the final procedural step required for provisional application, in line with the Council Decision of January 9.

The iTA will therefore apply provisionally from May 1 between the EU and all Mercosur countries that finalize their ratification procedures and notify the EU before the end of March. Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay have already done so. Paraguay recently ratified the agreement and is expected to send its notification soon.

Provisional application ensures the removal of tariffs on certain products from day one, establishing predictable rules for trade and investment.