What will it take to ratify the EU-Mercosur trade agreement?

After almost 20 years, the negotiations for the free trade agreement between the European Union and members of the Mercosur customs union (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) finally concluded in June 2019. But the agreement has still not been ratified. It has the potential to form one of the biggest trading blocs if countries can come to agreement on difficulties concerning forest protection, public opinion, and agricultural market access. Talks are ongoing; what will it take for the partners to finally agree?

Joining this episode of Trade Winds were:

HOST

Cecilia Malmström
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE)

GUESTS

Belén Gracia
PhD candidate, Maastricht University Faculty of Law; former trade negotiator for the government of Argentina

Rupert Schlegelmilch
Deputy Director-General at the Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission