EU-Mercosur trade accord to apply provisionally from May 1 - Reuters

The European Union and Mercosur trade bloc will begin applying their landmark trade agreement provisionally starting May 1, moving forward with the deal despite ongoing domestic political opposition in some member states. The agreement, which has been negotiated for over two decades, eliminates tariffs and opens markets between the EU and the South American bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Provisional application allows the accord to take effect before formal ratification by all national parliaments, accelerating the implementation of trade liberalization measures. The deal represents the EU's largest trade agreement in over a decade and aims to boost exports and investment flows between the blocs. However, the accord faces continued resistance from agricultural interests in France and other EU members concerned about competition from South American farm products.