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Late 1995, the European Union initiated negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement with Mercosur (common market between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) as a reaction to the US’ push for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The FTAA is sometimes seen as an expansion of NAFTA — it would create a trade zone englobing all countries of North and South America except for Cuba. The members of the FTAA would practice internal tariff rates and investment privileges and so on that companies from outside the region will not enjoy. FTAA would form a special club of investors and governments enjoying preferential access to each others’ economies. That is why the EU wants its own special relationship with Mercosur, since Mercosur represents the largest market segment of Latin America within the FTAA. (To put things in perspective, Brazil’s top trade negotiator, Celso Morin, has bluntly described the FTAA as a bilateral agreement between Mercosur and the US.)
The EU-Mercosur FTA — which could be termed an inter-regional agreement, or more accurately a bilateral agreement between two common markets — was slated to be completed in October 2004. But the two sides failed to agree on each other’s final offers. Among other things, Mercosur was not satisfied with the EU’s agricultural market access provisions while the EU complained of the lack of Mercosur proposals to open their telecommunications sector and to upgrade protection of European geographical indications. More generally, commentators blamed the failure of the talks on mutual lack of political will. Discussions resumed in 2005 and the EU planned to reach an agreement by 2006; however, the resumption of negotiations has been put off indefinitely due to the resistance of South American countries to opening up certain markets and to the European rejection of demands to cut agricultural subsidies. last update: April 2009 Articles
Global insider: Brazil-EU relations
| 31-August-2010
Both Brazil and the EU find themselves in a bit of a fix on the question of accommodating Mercosur within their bilateral relations.
Acuerdos comerciales y derechos humanos ¿Andariveles separados?
| 6-August-2010
Acuerdo UE-Mercosur: el contexto actual está signado por los crecientes cuestionamientos al impacto de las empresas transnacionales por su falta de respeto a los derechos socio-ambientales y humanos.
Negociações Mercosul-União Européia: Um recomeço que não tem fim?
| 24-July-2010
Acreditamos que as profundas assimetrias econômicas e tecnológicas entre MERCOSUL e UE, somadas às fragilidades políticas do primeiro, tendem a produzir um acordo comercial desigual.
La UE y Mercosur avanzan hacia posible reanudación de negociaciones de TLC
| 3-July-2010
La Unión Europea y el Mercosur tuvieron un intercambio fructífero en Buenos Aires y tienen una clara voluntad de relanzar las negociaciones para un acuerdo de libre comercio, interrumpidas desde 2004.
Comienzan las negociaciones Mercosur-UE
| 11-June-2010
El Mercosur prepara su cumbre sanjuanina y aseguran –a riesgo de déjà vu– que podría haber unión aduanera. Se firma un TLC con Egipto. 
The EU and South America trading bloc Mercosur agreed Monday to resume talks aimed at reaching a free trade agreement which were suspended in 2004, despite opposition from key European nations including France.
A Bruxelles - Les Européens inquiets et divisés sur les négociations commerciales avec le Mercosur
| 17-May-2010
Une majorité d’Etats européens emmenés par la France ont exprimé lundi leur inquiétude quant aux risques que fait peser sur leur agriculture la relance de négociations en vue d’un accord commercial entre l’UE et le Mercosur, qui devait être officialisée à Madrid.
UE y Mercosur deciden reanudar negociaciones para un TLC
| 17-May-2010
La UE y el Mercosur decidieron en una cumbre este lunes en Madrid reanudar las negociaciones para lograr un TLC "ambicioso y equilibrado", anunció el presidente del Gobierno español.
Lobby agrícola, versión francesa
| 15-May-2010
La decisión de la UE de retomar las negociaciones con el bloque sudamericano motivó una fuerte reacción de productores agrícolas de Francia y otros nueve países de la comunidad que no quieren ceder espacios.
Diez países europeos encabezados por Francia protestan ante Bélgica por TLC con Mercosur
| 12-May-2010
Alegan que dicho tratado atenta contra contra sus intereses agrícolas. |
Le stand de l’UE à la conférence sur le sida "saisi" par des militants défenseurs des génériques
| 21-July-2010
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the U.S.- South Korea Trade Agreement
| 30-June-2010
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