The European Commission has announced that the Mercosur trade agreement will come into effect for the time being, as stated by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. This agreement, which has been under negotiation for 25 years, was signed this January and involves the EU alongside the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The deal is significant as it will eliminate approximately 4 billion euros in export tariffs for EU goods, potentially enhancing trade relations between Europe and South America.

Despite gaining approval from the majority of EU member states, the agreement has faced criticism from agricultural stakeholders within the EU. Farmers in the European Union have expressed serious concerns about the competition posed by large agricultural nations, particularly from South America. Notably, France was one of the countries that voted against the agreement, highlighting the ongoing tensions between trade policy and national agricultural interests.

Currently, the EU Parliament has referred the agreement to the EU Court, where its legality will be assessed. The decision to move forward with the implementation while the court reviews the agreement points to the EU's keen interest in strengthening international trade ties, but it also raises questions about how the feedback from concerned member states will influence future negotiations and trade policies across Europe.