In Brasília, Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved the treaty between Mercosur and the European Union on Wednesday night (25). The text will now be reviewed by the Senate, with rapporteur Marcos Pereira coordinating the voting alongside Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and House President Hugo Motta. This legislation aims to bolster trade relations between Latin America and the EU, and the government plans to release a decree to protect the agribusiness sector ahead of senatorial deliberations.

The swift progress on the treaty comes in response to heightened concerns following President Donald Trump’s announcement of increased global import tariffs from 10% to 15%. Hugo Motta emphasized that this is a critical moment for Brazil to assert its export capacity, referring to the country as the 'main protagonist' in executing this agreement. The proposal received significant support despite some dissent among leftist lawmakers who opposed it, highlighting the contentious nature of trade policies in Brazilian politics.

Simultaneously, Uruguay's Senate also unanimously approved the bill to ratify the agreement on the same day. This synchronized move among the three countries indicates a regional alignment on promoting trade and economic partnerships with Europe. The approval signals a commitment to integrating economies and could lead to increased investment opportunities, although the challenges of fulfilling the agribusiness protections remain a point of concern as the agreement moves forward.