- Country or region
- Mercosur
- Trade topics
- Negotiations and agreements
From 1 May 2026, the EU-Mercosur interim trade agreement provisionally applies, allowing EU producers and exporters of goods and services to immediately start reaping the benefits of this deal.
The provisional application will create new opportunities as of day one.
A boost for the automotive sector
- On EU electric vehicles and hybrid exports: duties will immediately go down from 35% to 25%, giving the EU a critical competitive edge over competitors.
- On Internal Combustion Engine cars: the duty cuts will halve the rates from 35% to 17.5%.
- Duties for car parts will be gradually dismantled for 90% of EU exports over a 10-year period, with a first cut of between 1.3% to 1.6% on day one.
Supporting EU manufacturing
- A boost for machinery and appliances: Current duties on machinery and appliances of 14-20% will be gradually dismantled for 93% of EU exports over a 10-year period in the majority of cases, with a first cut of between 1.3 to 1.7 percentage points on day one
- Unlocking new opportunities for the pharmaceutical sector: Current pharma tariffs of up to 14% start their 10-year transition period to 0% for 90% of EU exports, with a first tariff cut of up to 1.3 percentage points on day one
- Drastic tariff reductions for textiles: Duties on textiles of 35% start their eight-year transition period to 0% for all of EU exports to Mercosur, with a first tariff cut of 3.9 percentage points on day one
A boost for the services sector
- Opportunities for services exporters:
- Financial – Opportunity to provide new services in Mercosur countries
- Postal – Clear licensing rules, independent regulation and prevention of anti-competitive practices
- Telecoms – Non-discriminatory procedures for the allocation of scarce resources, such as 5G spectrum
- Movement of workers: Service suppliers like intra-corporate transferees and contractual suppliers can temporarily enter the EU and Mercosur for business purposes
- European service suppliers can establish an enterprise and supply most services on an equal footing with domestic and foreign suppliers
Other benefits of the agreement
- Access to government contracts in Argentina (federal level), Brazil (federal and sub-central), and Uruguay (federal) with some exceptions. (Paraguay access to come within three years).
- Technical Barriers to Trade: Clear and flexible rules on labelling, commitment to align with international standards, and recognition of EU conformity assessment results for a set of product characteristics (such as safety aspects of electrical and electronic equipment).
- Certainty against disputes: In case of disputes between the EU and Mercosur countries, the deal guarantees fair and fast resolutions with independent arbitration.
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Hands-on information on how to access Mercosur available through Access2Markets.
Do you want to export from the EU to Mercosur countries?
Here is how to get ready as an exporter
Register as an exporter:
- Get your EORI (Economic operators' registration and identification) number for EU customs.
Check Rules of Origin:
- Use the ROSA (Rules of Origin Self-Assessment) tool on Access2Markets to check whether a product complies with the rules of origin under a particular EU trade agreement.
- You may need EA (Approved Exporter) or REX (Registered Exporter) status to declare the origin of your goods yourself.
Research market requirements:
- Use the My Trade Assistant on Access2Markets to search for:
- Tariffs and taxes;
- Product and document requirements, and;
- other customs procedures by product and destination.
Consider potential trade barriers or restrictions:
- Check TARIC and the EU Sanctions Map to confirm which restrictions apply to your product (especially on food products, live animals, dual use items or cultural goods).
Prepare supporting documents and submit your export declaration:
- Decide with your buyer who prepares which documents. The importer often handles customs clearance, duties, taxes, and extra fees.
- Know the documents that are usually required. Typically, these include commercial invoices, packing lists, and import licenses, among others.
Pro tip:
Include duties, taxes and fees when setting your final price so your product stays competitive.
Any issues?
The Single Entry Point is the first point of contact for all EU stakeholders facing potential trade barriers in third countries.
Finally...
Bookmark the EU’s Access2Markets portal, your one-stop shop for tips on importing and exporting (available in all EU languages).