Mercosur | Madrid, 3 July 2017

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström today spoke in Madrid on the benefits of an EU trade deal with Mercosur – the region of South America which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Noting the common tastes and passions of these countries with Europe – from food to football – she also highlighted the benefits of the economic relationship, such as trade in goods and services, and EU investment in the region. With EU exporters paying over 4 billion euros a year in tariffs to access the Mercosur market, the Commissioner cited the economic benefits of an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement – but also the value, in a time of rising protectionism, of two such large economies showing their commitment to work together towards open, rules-based trade.

Citing new political commitment and momentum in the negotiations, she said the EU-Mercosur agreement was a "unique opportunity" to build a bridge between the two regions.

To read the speech in Spanish (as given)

For more on the EU's ongoing negotiations with Mercosur