Latest news and stories about trade agreement in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially promulgated the Mercosur-EU trade agreement following its approval by the National Congress in March.
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.
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.
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.
José Cesário highlights that Portugal is “enthusiastic” about expanding the free trade agreement with the entry into force of the Mercosur-EU deal on May 1st, but admits that there may be obstacles and readjustments.
Poland will challenge the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur at the Court of Justice of the European Union. The move is seen as a largely symbolic gesture to deflect pressure from the opposition on Donald Tusk's government. The trade agreement provisionally enters into force on the first day...
Lula da Silva praises the Brazilian work ethic and emphasizes the current positive state of diplomatic ties between Brazil and Portugal.
The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries will provisionally enter into force starting May 1st.
The President of Brazil met with Luís Montenegro this Tuesday.
Former Socialist MEP Isabel Santos analyses the proposal that Pedro Sánchez plans to make to the European Union, which consists of requesting the cancellation of the trade agreement between the EU and Israel.
In a few days, on April 21, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to arrive in Portugal for his first visit to the European country under the leadership of António José Seguro. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro will also attend the meeting. Lula intends to arrive in Portugal 'making noise' about a specific topic, as he has previously stated: the finalisation of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. Watch Iara Lemos' opinion on Radar DN Brasil. Radar DN Brasil airs every Friday at 8 am on the DN Brasil YouTube and Spotify channels, featuring a weekly summary and everything of interest to Brazilians in Portugal. DN Brasil is a section of Diário de Notícias dedicated to the Brazilian community living in or planning to move to Portugal. The texts are written in Brazilian Portuguese.
The European Parliament is meeting in Brussels for a two-day mini-plenary session starting this Wednesday, the 25th, focusing on concerns over energy prices and the trade agreement between the EU and the United States. MEPs will debate energy security scenarios in light of the expanded conflict in the Middle East, triggered by Israel and US attacks on Iran since February 28th, and the closure of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz—a route through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas circulates. Representatives of the Council and the Commission will be questioned on measures to strengthen supply security, stabilise the market, and protect price affordability. On Thursday, the 26th, the negotiating position on customs tariffs in the EU-US agreement is expected to be approved, including a clause that allows for the suspension of the treaty should Washington impose new tariffs or threaten the territorial integrity of member states. Discussions are also planned on the reform of the return policy for irregular immigrants and on the developments of the last European Council, namely Viktor Orbán's veto of the 90 billion loan to Ukraine. The European Council is attempting today to provide a response to high energy prices.
The European Parliament will address its negotiating position regarding the EU-US agreement, advocating for the inclusion of a clause that allows for suspension should the US impose new tariffs or threaten the integrity of any of the 27 member states.
The President of the European Commission states that the global economy is in a phase of “struggle” between powers, in a context marked by geopolitical tensions.
Australia and the EU signed a vast free trade agreement this Tuesday, a commitment that is the culmination of eight years of negotiations.
Provisional application will ensure enhanced collaboration on issues such as labour rights or climate change and will “create more resilient and reliable supply chains,” says the Commission.
The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries will provisionally enter into force on 1 May, the European Commission announced this Monday, the 23rd. The Commission stated it has completed the final formal step required for provisional application by sending a note verbale to Paraguay, which currently holds the Mercosur presidency. The agreement will apply to all Mercosur nations that complete ratification and notify the EU by the end of March. The Commission highlights that this provisional application will eliminate tariffs on certain products, create predictable trade rules, and strengthen collaboration on labour rights and climate change, while ensuring sensitive EU economic sectors remain protected by robust safeguards.
In today's Radar DN Brasil, DN executive editor Margarida Vaqueiro-Lopes discusses the Banco Master case and recalls the eight-million-euro transaction by Daniel Vorcaro to purchase a bank in Portugal. DN Brasil editor Amanda Lima provides information on the new Portuguese app for traveler registration, part of the European passenger control system. From Brasília, Iara Lemos comments on the promulgation of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, signed by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre this week. Reporter Nuno Tibiriçá speaks with Gregório Duvivier and Ricardo Araújo Pereira about the Portuguese language and the cultural proximity between Brazil and Portugal. And more! Subscribe to DN Brasil on YouTube and Spotify so you don't miss out. Radar DN Brasil airs every Friday at 8 am on the DN Brasil YouTube and Spotify channels, featuring a weekly summary and everything that matters to Brazilians in Portugal. Click here to follow the DN Brasil channel on WhatsApp! DN Brasil is a section of Diário de Notícias dedicated to the Brazilian community living in or planning to move to Portugal. Texts are written in Brazilian Portuguese. During Women's Month, alerts increase regarding the risks of trafficking Brazilian women to Portugal and Europe. The 'Friends of Brazil' contest will reward students and teachers in Portugal to combat xenophobia in schools.
Portugal may proceed with a provisional application of the agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur, which is currently before the EU Court of Justice, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced in parliament today.
The Prime Minister highlights that Portugal is one of the first member states to sign the partnership agreement with Mercosur, as the decision allows for provisional application before conditions are met for the ratification process.
Portugal may move forward with a provisional application of the agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur, currently before the EU Court of Justice, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced in parliament this Wednesday. “I personally signed the authorization yesterday [Tuesday] that allows Portugal to be one of the first member states to subscribe to the partnership agreement...”
Such a decision, he added, allows for “provisional application before conditions are met for the ratification process.”
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 slow march was organised by the Association of Producers of the Municipality of Serpa. The president of APROSERPA said it was important to take to the streets to show their displeasure with the EU–Mercosur agreement.
Ratification of this trade agreement was suspended by the European Parliament in response to threats from Trump.
The livestock producers' representative spoke out against the trade agreement and expressed concern about issues such as avian influenza, African swine fever and bluetongue.
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.
