Hundreds of European Union (EU) farmers gathered this Tuesday near the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg to pressure MEPs on the eve of the vote to refer the trade agreement with Mercosur to the Court of Justice of the EU. Three days after the signing of this agreement in Paraguay, farmers from several European countries, among them ...
Hundreds of farmers protest against EU–Mercosur agreement at the European Parliament
Tuesday, 20 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Mercosur (Mercado Comum do Sul) is South America's largest trade bloc, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as full members. It has been negotiating a landmark free trade agreement with the European Union for over two decades.
The EU-Mercosur deal matters for Portugal because of the country's deep historical, cultural, and economic ties with Brazil — Portugal's largest non-EU trading partner and home to the biggest Portuguese diaspora community. A deal would reduce tariffs on European exports (including Portuguese wine, olive oil, and textiles) while opening EU markets to South American agricultural products (beef, soy, sugar, ethanol).
Portuguese farmers, particularly in the beef and dairy sectors, have expressed concern about competition from lower-cost South American producers. Environmental groups have criticized the deal over deforestation risks in the Amazon. The agreement requires ratification by all EU member states and the European Parliament, making its passage politically complex.
