PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 13 October 2025 - 26 European business associations are urging the rapid ratification of the EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement, underlining its importance for Europe’s industrial competitiveness, trade diversification, and sustainable growth.
The joint declaration, endorsed by a broad coalition of European industries, highlights that the EU–Mercosur Partnership represents a strategic opportunity to deepen economic and political ties between two regions that together account for one-fifth of the global economy and a population of over 750 million people. In an increasingly fragmented global trade environment, this agreement stands as a clear commitment to openness, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
Trade relations between the EU and Mercosur are already substantial, with total exchanges in goods and services reaching €153 billion in 2024 and mutual investment amounting to €380 billion in 2023. According to European Commission estimates, the agreement could add €77.6 billion to the EU’s GDP by 2040, while EU exports to Mercosur are expected to rise by 39%, with Mercosur exports to Europe increasing by 17%. These figures illustrate how a modern, balanced trade framework can drive competitiveness while ensuring that high social and environmental standards remain integral to economic progress.
For Europe’s leather industry, the agreement offers a significant opportunity to improve the access to necessary resources, strengthen cooperation, and build more resilient, sustainable supply and value chains.
Beyond trade, the EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement embeds robust commitments to sustainable development, including action on climate change, biodiversity protection, and labour and social rights. It will provide a framework for responsible trade that supports Europe’s Green Deal and Circular Economy objectives, while preserving sensitive sectors and promoting high-value industrial cooperation.
COTANCE joins its partners across European industry in calling on the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to move forward swiftly with the ratification of both the EU–Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) and the EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA). Ratifying this agreement is not only a step toward stronger international partnerships—it is a vital investment in Europe’s industrial resilience, competitiveness, and sustainable future.