Chambers Ireland fully supports provisional application of Mercosur Agreement

27 February 2026

Chambers Ireland has welcomed today’s announcement by the European Commission to provisionally apply the EU–Mercosur Trade Agreement.

Chief Executive Ian Talbot said the decision will benefit Irish businesses and marks a significant step forward in strengthening the EU economy:

“Chambers Ireland fully supports the EU in provisionally applying the EU–Mercosur Agreement. This is one of the most consequential Agreements of recent times.

We are now part of one of the world’s largest free‑trade areas and this will open up substantial opportunities for Irish and European businesses. At the granular level it will greatly expand export markets for Irish businesses while enabling them to diversify their supply chains. Consumers also stand to gain from greater choice on a range of goods and some reduction in prices due to the reduction in tariffs and greater competition.”

He continued:

“Provisional application is a proven mechanism and the EU has used it effectively before. As with the EU-Canada Agreement (CETA), it enables businesses to access the benefits of the Agreement immediately while the full ratification process continues. In real terms this has translated into a 240% increase in trade of goods and services between Ireland and Canada and substantial commercial gains for businesses across all sectors including agriculture. In addition the number of EU SMEs exporting to Canada has grown by 20.3%

In addition to the EU committing to a €6.5 billion agricultural safety net to support farmers if serious market disruption occurs, the Agreement includes firm and enforceable protections. Imports of sensitive products such as beef are tightly limited, introduced slowly, and constantly monitored. If those imports threaten farm incomes or destabilise markets, the EU can immediately step in by restoring tariffs, restricting access and deploying the safety net. These safeguards apply even where impacts are felt in individual countries like Ireland, not just across Europe as a whole. EU food standards are unchanged and strictly enforced, with increased inspections and controls. Taken together, this ensures trade is opened carefully and fairly, without leaving farmers or rural communities exposed.

Delays carry a tangible cost to our competitiveness. Given heightened geopolitical uncertainty which continues in other critical markets, the EU is right to move decisively to safeguard its strategic and economic interests.”

-Ends-

For more information contact publicaffairs@chambers.ie