Mercosur agreement rewards those who are well prepared – and increases pressure on those who are not
The provisional implementation of the EU–Mercosur agreement as of 1 May 2026 marks the start of new trade opportunities between Europe and South America.
Rotterdam, 4 May 2026 – With the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur agreement from 1st May 2026, new opportunities are opening up for companies trading between Europe and South America. From the perspective of Customs Support Group, a leading independent provider of customs clearance and trade solutions in Europe, the new framework will not automatically lead to lower costs. Instead, it may widen the gap between well-prepared companies and those that are not.
“Free trade agreements do not create advantages per se – they create options,”
says Nicolas Urien, Head of Global Advisory at Customs Support Group (CSG)
“Which companies actually benefit depends largely on how quickly and consistently they can execute against the new framework. Those who have their master data, classification and supporting documentation under control are in a position to capture value faster. Those with gaps will only be able to realise these benefits to a limited extent, at least initially.”
According to CSG, a clear divide is already emerging: while some companies keep their product master data, tariff classifications, supplier declarations and proof of origin well organised and check them at an early stage, others are taking a wait-and-see approach. According to Nicolas Urien, the gap is widening as a result of the agreement:
“Well-prepared companies can capture preferential savings from day one. Others will first need to align their data, documentation and internal processes and in the meantime miss out on valuable opportunities.”
A significant risk is to underestimate the implications of customs regulations.
“Preferential duties do not apply automatically,” explains Nicolas Urien. “They can only be used if preferential origin rules are properly understood, documentation is robust, and data is accurate and consistent.”
The key, therefore, is the ability to operationalise customs and trade processes quickly and at scale. From the perspective of CSG, this requires three priorities: reliable trade data and correct classification, robust origin and preference documentation, and end-to-end visibility over flows, duties and compliance risks.
“The real question is not whether companies recognise the opportunities of the agreement,” says Nicolas Urien. “The question is whether they can execute fast enough and embed these changes into their day-to-day operations. That is what will determine who actually benefits from the new trade environment.”
Customs Support Group (CSG) helps organisations translate trade agreements into measurable results by turning policy change into operational execution. For EU–Mercosur, this means getting the fundamentals right: classification, origin rules, supplier declarations, and audit‑ready documentation, and embedding them into daily customs processes across trade lanes.
