What is MERCOSUR and how does it influence international trade ? InfoCons Consumer Protection informs you in the context of the EU–MERCOSUR Agreement !
MERCOSUR (Mercado Común del Sur / Southern Common Market) is one of the most important economic blocs and regional integration processes in South America, playing a strategic role in the development of trade, economic and social relations among member states and international partners. Established through the Treaty of Asunción, signed in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, MERCOSUR was designed as a regional cooperation mechanism aimed at facilitating the free movement of goods, services and investments, while also contributing to economic development and regional stability.
Subsequently, the regional integration process expanded through the accession of Venezuela and Bolivia, while several South American countries acquired Associated State status, including Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru and Suriname. Today, MERCOSUR brings together a population of approximately 280 million people and a territory of nearly 15 million km², making it one of the world’s most significant regional markets.
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MERCOSUR operates as a common economic area with the objective of eliminating customs duties and trade barriers among member states, establishing a common external tariff and developing coordinated trade policies toward third countries. At the same time, the organization promotes the harmonization of economic and sectoral policies in areas such as foreign trade, agriculture, industry, transportation, communications, capital markets and taxation.
Over time, MERCOSUR has gone beyond its strictly economic and commercial dimension, evolving into a complex regional mechanism that also includes social, cultural, educational and institutional components. The fundamental principles underpinning MERCOSUR are democracy, economic development and regional integration focused on citizens and the protection of the public interest.
In this regard, the regional bloc has developed instruments and agreements concerning citizen mobility, social rights, human rights protection, cultural cooperation and sustainable development. Furthermore, permanent institutions and financial mechanisms have been created to reduce economic disparities among member states, such as the MERCOSUR Structural Convergence Fund (FOCEM), which finances projects aimed at increasing competitiveness and social cohesion across the region.
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MERCOSUR operates through common decision-making structures, the most important of which are:
- The Common Market Council (CMC) – the bloc’s main political and decision-making body;
- The Common Market Group (GMC) – responsible for coordinating and implementing adopted measures;
- The MERCOSUR Trade Commission (CCM) – the body responsible for administering the common trade policy.
Decisions are adopted by consensus among member states, each state having equal voting rights within the decision-making process.
Among the most important milestones in MERCOSUR’s evolution are:
- the signing of the Ouro Preto Protocol in 1994, which established the bloc’s institutional structure;
- the adoption of the Ushuaia Protocol on Democratic Commitment;
- the creation of the MERCOSUR Parliament (PARLASUR);
- the launch of the Structural Convergence Fund (FOCEM);
- the development of regional institutions dedicated to social policies and human rights;
- the launch of regional platforms for trade statistics and professional training.
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A landmark moment for international economic relations is represented by the provisional entry into force, on May 1st, 2026, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR. This agreement opens a new stage of economic and commercial cooperation between the two regional blocs and creates new opportunities regarding trade exchanges, investments and the circulation of products between the involved markets.
In this context, InfoCons launched the Interdisciplinary Action Group dedicated to monitoring and implementing the EU–MERCOSUR Agreement, an initiative aimed at contributing to consumer protection, increasing trade transparency and strengthening the safety of products circulating between the two markets.
The Interdisciplinary Action Group addresses consumers, public institutions, the private sector, economic operators and all entities involved in the processes of purchasing, selling, importing and reselling products. Its purpose is to monitor trade flows and identify products subject to non-compliance alerts or products that may pose risks to consumers’ health and safety.
Through the InfoCons SOLUTION, the Interdisciplinary Action Group aims to develop a digital monitoring and information mechanism that enables the verification of products traded between European Union member states and MERCOSUR states. The main objective is to prevent the introduction of non-compliant or dangerous products onto the market and to support transparent and responsible trade.
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The InfoCons SOLUTION is available free of charge in 33 languages and provides full support, including in Spanish and Portuguese, the official languages of MERCOSUR member states. Through this solution, users can quickly access relevant information regarding products identified in official alert systems.
The ALERTS section within the FREE InfoCons App provides consumers and economic operators with information such as:
- product name;
- the country that identified the product as non-compliant;
- country of origin;
- risk level;
- description of non-compliance issues;
- alert activation date;
- product image.
Through this initiative, InfoCons reaffirms its active role in supporting consumer protection and access to useful information, contributing to the development of a safer, more transparent and responsible commercial framework between the European Union and MERCOSUR member states.
More information regarding the Interdisciplinary Action Group dedicated to monitoring and implementing the EU-Mercosur Agreement is available HERE .
Signature: InfoCons Communication Department
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