The trade deal between the EU and Mercosur will start provisionally from May 1, the European Commission said on Monday, meaning that tariffs on most goods will be removed by both sides, as agreed under the deal.
A European Commission spokesman confirmed that Brussels had sent a notice to Paraguay, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Mercosur bloc – the latest step to push for the provisional implementation of the deal, backed by EU capitals on January 9.
This action has been disputed by many countries opponents of Mercosurlike France, with a government spokesperson saying it constituted a violation of democratic principles, as well as from MEPs who have long opposed the deal.
The provisional application will only come into force for countries that have ratified the agreement and notified the EU – currently Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay – with Paraguay still to send its notification.
It will remain in force until Brussels finalizes ratification of the deal in the coming years, after the EU’s Court of Justice decides whether the deal complies with EU law in a case brought by MEPs.
The commission said businesses, consumers and farmers could start “to reap the benefits of the deal immediately”, while sensitive agricultural sectors remain protected by safeguards, which will enter into force beginning of April.
“The priority now is to turn this EU-Mercosur agreement into concrete results, giving EU exporters the platform they need to seize new opportunities for trade, growth and jobs,” said trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, hailing the provisional application as a step towards fulfilling that promise.
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