Mercosul pushes external trade deals as Brazil warns against unilateral moves

Mercosul is accelerating negotiations for trade agreements outside the bloc in response to rising global protectionism, especially the United States' tariff measures. Former Camex executive Roberto Giannetti said the bloc now has a “wide agenda” of about ten simultaneous commercial processes with countries such as Panama, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Chile, Colombia and Peru, and is also looking toward Japan, India, Canada and the UAE. The goal is to diversify markets and offset tariff shocks.

Brazil’s foreign minister Mauro Vieira criticised recent unilateral initiatives by Mercosul members, saying they undermine regional cohesion and send confusing signals to external partners. He warned that “more perforations to the common external tariff will not lead to the development we all seek.”

The provisional Mercosul‑EU agreement, in force since 1 May, removed tariffs on more than 5,000 Brazilian products and is expected to open new export opportunities for small and medium‑sized enterprises. Officials from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services highlighted the need for capacity‑building, with a new “Aprendendo a Exportar” module on the ministry’s platform providing practical guidance on market access, rules of origin and regulatory requirements for SMEs.

Together, the initiatives aim to strengthen Brazil’s export capacity, protect the integrity of Mercosul’s customs union, and position the bloc to navigate an increasingly protectionist global trade environment.