Latest news and stories about trade agreement in finance in Portugal for expats and residents.
The bloc, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia (currently in the accession process), signed a trade agreement with the European Union on January 17th, creating one of the largest free trade areas on the planet.
The article discusses the potential risks faced by hundreds of Portuguese textile companies due to an agreement between the European Union and India. This deal could lead to increased imports of Indian textiles into the EU, threatening the competitiveness and sustainability of Portugal's textile industry. The concern is that the agreement may result in a surge of cheaper Indian products flooding the market, which could undermine local producers and impact employment within the sector. The article highlights the need for careful consideration of the agreement's implications on Portugal's textile industry and calls for measures to protect domestic producers from adverse effects.
Sectors such as olive oil, wine and fruit expect significant benefits, but small and medium-sized producers of cereals, meat and honey will face direct and disproportionate competition.
The Portuguese Business Confederation (CIP) considers the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and India a significant step to reduce dependence on traditional partners and to strengthen Portugal’s presence in high‑growth economies.
Ratification of this trade agreement was suspended by the European Parliament in response to threats from Trump.
The 'free-trade market among democracies' was defended as one of the advantages of the partnership. In opposition, Chega and the PCP questioned safeguard measures and unequal production costs.
This agreement — dubbed 'the mother of all agreements' — is expected to double the EU's exports to India by 2032 and save around €4 billion a year in duties. It can and should form part of a broader European Union strategy in the Trump-centred era.
The EU–India summit, held in New Delhi, concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement that brings together almost two billion people and two of the world’s largest economies.
Rui da Rocha Ferreira, Online coordinator at Negócios, explains the agreement reached with India that will allow European companies to export more cheaply and more easily.
After almost two decades of negotiations, India and the European Union announced on Tuesday that they had reached a free trade agreement.
A concise overview of the new EU–India deal: the main policy and trade changes it introduces (tariff and regulatory cooperation, investment and services, mobility and digital links), why it is considered historic in terms of scale and geopolitical significance, and the likely gains for Portugal — including export opportunities, increased investment, stronger political and strategic ties, and closer cooperation on technology and green energy.
The agreement is expected to double the EU's exports of goods to India by 2032.
A trade agreement between the European Union and India has finally been concluded after 18 years of negotiations. The two blocs are currently meeting in New Delhi, with the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission in attendance.
The deal would create a barrier-free market for 2 billion consumers between Europe and India. Also in this bulletin, António José Seguro and André Ventura will later take part in the only debate of this second round.
Narendra Modi believes the pact 'will offer numerous opportunities to 1.4 billion Indians and to the millions of inhabitants of the EU'
Negotiations launched in 2007 were stalled for 18 years. India facilitates access for European cars and wines, while Europe opens its market further to textiles and medicines. Von der Leyen emphasises that “this is just the beginning” of a strategic relationship to be strengthened.
A formal announcement is expected to take place this Tuesday, according to the Indian Commerce Secretary.
The presidential candidate visited a cheesemaker in Évora and warned of the risk of bankruptcy for the primary and dairy sectors. On Wednesday, the European Parliament referred the agreement to the European court.
After on-off talks since 2007, the two sides finally take the plunge, responding to steep U.S. tariffs and cheap goods from China.
Ventura says he will do everything to have the EU-Mercosur trade agreement suspended and to stop it coming into effect.
Portugal faces a mixed outcome from the EU–Mercosur trade agreement. Export-oriented sectors such as wine, olive oil and cheese see expanded market access to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay as growth opportunities, while domestic meat and rice producers fear increased competition, downward price pressure and quota-driven market disruption. The deal thus creates winners and losers within Portugal’s agricultural and food industries, highlighting the need for safeguards, support measures and sectoral adaptation strategies.
Update: The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur is due to be signed this Saturday. The impending signature has intensified debate in Portugal: wine, olive oil and cheese sectors are positioning to capture growth in the four South American markets, while meat and rice producers renew warnings about heightened competition, downward price pressure and quota effects. Stakeholders are pressing for concrete safeguards, transitional support and clear implementation timetables to mitigate adjustment costs and protect sensitive domestic producers.
António Costa says this is a historic agreement between the European Union and Mercosur and rejected criticism that it favours Europe. According to the President of the European Council, it is a trade agreement but also one on investment.
The European Commission confirmed that President Ursula von der Leyen will sign the EU–Mercosur free trade agreement on Saturday 17 January, after the EU approved advancement of the deal despite objections from France, Hungary and Poland. Supporters argue the pact will boost exports and deepen ties with South America, while farmers and some domestic political actors warn of negative impacts on agriculture and standards. The move has been framed by some commentators as a rare act of multilateral diplomacy amid broader geopolitical tensions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to New Delhi at the end of January for the EU–India summit with the explicit aim of finalising a long‑sought EU–India trade agreement. Having concluded the Mercosur talks, von der Leyen says the Commission is working intensively to wrap up negotiations, a move with significant economic and geopolitical implications for EU trade policy and relations with India.
