Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promulgated the Mercosur-European Union agreement this Tuesday, stating the treaty was forged 'with iron, sweat and blood'. The free trade agreement, negotiated over 25 years, enters into force provisionally on Friday. During the ceremony at the Planalto Palace, Lula criticised the delay in signing the deal, noting that agreements from colonisers to the colonised move faster, while the reverse faces resistance. He framed the deal as a victory for multilateralism and a response to the unilateral tariff policies of Donald Trump. Lula emphasised that Brazil is no longer a 'small republic' and will negotiate on equal terms, while also highlighting Portugal's potential as a strategic gateway for Brazilian business interests in Europe.