Introduction: A New Era for Mercosur Exports

A great opportunity has arrived for Mercosur businesses. The historic EU-Mercosur agreement establishes a free trade area, opening the door to one of the world's largest consumer markets. Before you continue reading, it is important to know that what is currently being provisionally applied is the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA). It is a separate agreement that contains the trade pillar of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and will govern until the EMPA, which is broader and still pending ratification, enters into force.

The core benefit of this agreement for your business is the possibility of accessing a gradual reduction and, for eligible products, the eventual elimination of customs duties, also known as tariffs, on the goods you export to the European Union (EU). This commitment is designed to increase and diversify trade by breaking down the customs barriers that can make your products less competitive abroad.

This guide provides a simple, step-by-step roadmap to help you understand this process and leverage it to achieve competitive prices, higher sales, and sustainable business growth in the EU market.

To take advantage of this free trade area, the first practical step is to understand the main tariff barrier the agreement seeks to reduce or eliminate.