🌍🌡️ What are EU talking about?

Since 1999, the European Union and Mercosur have been negotiating what could become one of the largest free-trade agreements in the world, linking two blocs that together represent close to 750 million consumers. 

The deal was concluded in 2019, only for negotiations to be later resumed — until a new political agreement was announced in December 2024 after 25 years of talks, promises to reduce tariffs, open markets and deepen political ties between Europe and South America. Yet, its fate remains as uncertain as ever, stalled largely by climate-related objections raised within Europe.

For the EU, the deal offers access to agricultural commodities and critical raw materials while creating new markets for industrial goods, cars, machinery and chemicals. For Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia), it promises expanded access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets, particularly for beef, poultry, sugar, ethanol and soy-based products.

The question, then, is how valid Europe’s environmental objections are…

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