After 25 years of delays, the European Union has approved a free trade agreement with Mercosur, the bloc made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The decision links Europe more closely to South America at a time when Europe’s traditional economic partner, the United States, has become less predictable.
The vote by 21 EU member states ends more than two decades of stalled talks and produces the largest trade agreement the EU has ever concluded. It also reflects a broader shift in global trade as Europe looks for new partners amid rising protectionism in the US, ongoing disputes over industrial subsidies, and growing uncertainty about the future of trans-Atlantic cooperation.
Why Mercosur Matters for Europe
Mercosur emerged from an unlikely team-up between Argentina and Brazil, long-time rivals that once planned for conflict with each other. Cooperation became possible with the return of democracy in the 1980s, opening the door to a South American
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