The wait is over: EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement has entered into force

On 1 May 2026, the EU’s trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, provisionally entered into force, creating a trading zone of over 700 million people. EFFOP welcomes this historic step toward stronger trade relations between Europe and South America.

From day one, tariffs on 367 EU product lines drop to zero in Mercosur, with tariffs on more than 9,000 further product categories beginning to fall progressively over the next 4-15 years.

For the fish and seafood side of the value chain, the agreement is directly relevant on the import side. Around 80% of fresh and frozen fish and shellfish categories from Mercosur gain duty-free access to the EU market from day one, including shrimp and lobster.

The agreement also includes binding commitments on sustainability, including the effective implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and concrete measures to combat deforestation and preserve biodiversity, which is principles that align closely with our sector’s own commitment to responsible and certified sourcing.

A note on coverage: This is an EU agreement and does not automatically apply to EFFOP members in Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the UK. Norway and Iceland are parties to a separate EFTA-Mercosur agreement signed in September 2025, which is still awaiting ratification.

For more information on the agreement visit the European Commission here.