The European Commission has officially notified the Mercosur countries of the European Union's decision to proceed with the temporary application of the EU—Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (iTA).
The notification was made through a note verbale addressed to Paraguay, the legal custodian of the Mercosur treaties, which is the final procedural requirement in accordance with the Council's decision of January 9, 2026.
As a result, the agreement will be temporarily applied from May 1, 2026 between the European Union and those Mercosur countries that have completed their ratification procedures and notified the EU by the end of March. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have already completed this process, while Paraguay has recently ratified the agreement and is expected to notify soon.
Immediate trade consequences and protective measures
The temporary application of the agreement will make it possible to eliminate tariffs on certain goods from the very beginning, ensuring greater predictability of trade and investment flows between the two regions.
According to the European Commission, the agreement provides guarantees for the protection of sensitive sectors of the EU economy, allowing businesses, consumers and farmers to benefit from improved market access.
Commenting on this event, Maros Sefcovic stated:
"Temporary application ensures that tariffs on certain goods are lifted from day one, creating predictable rules for trade and investment. In this way, EU businesses, consumers and farmers can immediately begin to reap the benefits of the deal, while sensitive sectors of the EU economy will be fully protected by reliable guarantees."
Strengthening cooperation and supply chains
In addition to tariff reductions, the agreement is expected to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Mercosur countries on key global issues, including labor standards and climate change.
The project also aims to support the development of more sustainable and reliable supply chains, especially with regard to the supply of critical raw materials, which are becoming increasingly important for European industry.
Maros Sefcovic also stressed the broader strategic importance of the agreement.:
"Temporary application will also ensure closer cooperation between the EU and Mercosur on pressing global issues such as labor rights and climate change. This will create more stable and reliable supply chains, which is crucial, in particular, for the predictable supply of critical raw materials."
As the temporary application is expected to begin on May 1, 2026, exporters will be able to access detailed information about the use of the agreement through the platform.
