25 years on, and despite strong opposition from France and protests by farmers, the European Union approved the agreement with Mercosur, creating the largest free-trade area. Von der Leyen called it a 'strong signal' from the EU in an 'increasingly transactional and hostile' world — Donald Trump's world — and Costa reminded that in 'rule-based trade partnerships everyone wins'.
EU approves deal with Mercosur, also a message to Trump
Friday, 9 January 2026RSS
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Context & Explainers
Mercosur is the South American trade bloc (Southern Common Market) whose main founding members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. An EU–Mercosur trade agreement — which the story says may be approved and signed soon — would reduce tariffs and open markets on both sides, affecting agricultural and industrial trade flows and therefore prices and business opportunities relevant to residents and companies in Portugal.
