EU Confirms EU-Mercosur Interim Deal to Enter Provisional Application from 1 May

The European Commission confirmed that the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement would enter into provisional application on May 1, 2026, following completion of domestic ratification procedures in all four Mercosur states (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay). This marks the effective start date of the world's largest trade deal by population — covering over 700 million people. EU exporters of cars, pharmaceuticals, wine, spirits, and olive oil will gain immediate tariff reductions. The provisional application covers the trade pillar of the agreement; full ratification by all EU member state parliaments, including a CJEU opinion, is still pending and could take up to two years.