Source: European Parliament
The EU is the world’s largest exporter of agri-food products, with an increasing trade surplus in such products (EUR 70 billion in 2023).
This is also thanks to its network of trade agreements. Mercosur is a large and highly protected market with great potential for high quality European agri-food exports such as dairy products, processed foods, olive oil, malt, fruit, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.
With respect to agri-food trade, imported products must always comply with the EU’s stringent food safety requirements. In addition, the EU has established autonomous legislation[1] requiring that imports into the EU adhere to certain production standards aimed at global environmental objectives and ethical concerns.
As to deforestation commitments, the 2019 agreement already included an ambitious chapter dedicated to promoting sustainable development.
The provisions under this chapter are binding and enforceable through a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism. Moreover, they commit each party to effectively implement the Paris Agreement.
On 6 December, the EU and Mercosur reached a political agreement finalising the negotiations. As part of the negotiated outcome, the Parties agreed to make the Paris Agreement an essential element of the EU-Mercosur agreement and the concrete commitment to halt deforestation.
The negotiated texts as well an explanatory document explaining the negotiated outcome achieved in 2024 are published on the Commission’s website[2].
Finally, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)[3] will ensure that trade in relevant products such as beef, soy or wood from Mercosur partners will be subject to the same requirements under EUDR — guaranteeing a high standard of environmental protection.
- [1] See notably the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulation, the regulation lowering maximum residue levels for two substances which are globally harmful to bees, the regulation on veterinary products prohibiting the use of antibiotic as growth promoter for imported products, the directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, the proposal for a regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market, etc.
- [2] https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/mercosur/eu-mercosur-agreement/text-agreement_en
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1115