The Brazilian government has confirmed the holding of the Mercosur Summit of Heads of State, scheduled for December 20 in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, at the triple border with Argentina and Paraguay. According to the Argentine News Agency, this was stated in an official communiqué from the Brazilian presidency. Prior to the summit, on December 19, the Ordinary Meeting of the Mercosur Council will take place, along with a series of meetings for foreign ministers, economy ministers, central bank presidents, and associated countries. Expectations for the Mercosur–EU Agreement The meeting of heads of state could lead to the formalization of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU), after more than three decades of negotiations. However, the possible signing of the agreement comes amid tension, after the EU approved agricultural safeguard measures that allow for the temporary suspension of tariff preferences for Mercosur products when there is a risk of harm to European producers. As stipulated, an investigation can be opened if imports of sensitive products, such as beef and poultry, increase by 5%, a measure that causes concern among South American exporters, who warn that the safeguards were not negotiated and could limit access to the European market. Among EU countries, France remains one of the main opponents to the agreement, in defense of its agricultural sector.
