Alckmin: Mercosur–EU Trade Pact Set for Jan. 17 Signing, Targeting H2 2026 Start

Overview

• Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said the long-negotiated agreement will be signed on Saturday, Jan. 17, after 25 years of talks.
• He outlined a sequence in which the European Parliament votes after signature, followed by a Brazilian law to internalize the pact, enabling entry into force in the second half of 2026 with immediate effect once in force.
• Alckmin described the deal as the largest bloc-to-bloc agreement, linking markets of about 720 million people and roughly US$22 trillion.
• He said the accord will eliminate many tariffs under “free trade with rules,” expanding export opportunities while lowering costs for consumers.
• Framing it as a pro-trade signal during global instability and rising protectionism, Alckmin also noted Mercosur now includes Bolivia alongside Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.