This briefing is the fourth in a series on the EU-Mercosur agreement, where BLOMSTEIN addresses key provisions with respect to Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Public Procurement, Competition and Sustainability, and outlines implications and opportunities for businesses.

Today’s briefing focuses on the Government Procurement chapter of the Agreement, which sets out a comprehensive framework for open and reciprocal access to public procurement markets between the two parties. Tendering processes are expected to become more streamlined, transparent, and competitive.

This briefing is the third in a series on the EU-Mercosur agreement, where BLOMSTEIN addresses key provisions with respect to Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Public Procurement, Competition and Sustainability, and outlines implications and opportunities for businesses.

In this release, we focus on the Agreement’s core provisions related to Trade in Services, particularly the commitments framework, national treatment and limitations. In 2023, the EU exported €28.5 billion in services to Mercosur, while Mercosur’s service exports to the EU amounted to €13.1 billion. The Agreement is expected to significantly boost this bilateral exchange. For the EU in particular, the agreement presents expanded opportunities in strategic sectors such as business services, financial services, telecommunications, maritime transport, and postal and courier services.

This briefing is the second in a series on the EU-Mercosur agreement, where BLOMSTEIN addresses its key provisions with respect to Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Public Procurement, Competition and Sustainability, and outline implications and opportunities for businesses.

In this release, we focus on the Agreement’s core provisions with respect to Trade in Goods, particularly tariff elimination schedules, safeguards for impacted sectors and rules of origin.

After more than two decades of negotiations, the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement  has taken a significant step closer to becoming a reality. Last December, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her counterparts from four Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) announced they reached a political agreement on the matter. However, the partnership agreement will only come into force after completion by each Party of its internal approval procedures (ratification process).

We continue to grow and strengthen our team with outstanding talent. As of July 1, 2025, Christopher Wolters and Leonard Freiherr von Rummel will become partners; Ramona Ader, Laura Louca and Philipp Trube will join the counsel ranks. With these promotions, we foster continuous, organic growth and strong individual development opportunities for all career levels across all practice groups.

As part of the Omnibus package (see our briefing here), the EU Commission suggested simplifications and improvements to the CBAM Regulation. The proposal aims to simplify and enhance the cost-efficiency of the CBAM Regulation while ensuring that its environmental objectives and core design principles remain intact. Key measures focus on easing compliance for importers by streamlining reporting requirements, particularly those involving complex calculations and extensive data collection.

Before the EU proposals become legally binding, they must go through the ordinary legislative procedure at the European level. Until this is achieved, every importer of CBAM goods should register as an authorized CBAM declarant in the CBAM registry, which is possible since 31 March 2025. We outline the details.

The increased political focus on climate and environmental protection has a particular impact on trade with chemicals. In an amendment to the REACH Regulation at the end of 2024, the European Commission banned the use of certain chemicals due to the risk of contamination. In this part of our ESG Briefing series, we provide an overview of the key provisions of the REACH Regulation and its latest amendments.

On 27 November 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 (Forced Labour Regulation) was published, aimed at eradicating products made with forced labour from the EU market. The Forced Labour Regulation represents a significant step in the EU's commitment to upholding human rights and promoting ethical supply chains.

 On 26 February 2025, the European Commission presented its long-awaited Omnibus package, purportedly aimed at simplifying a range of EU regulations, with a particular focus on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The revisions respond to mounting pressure from businesses and governments, who argue that the current regulatory framework is overly complex and imposes excessive administrative burdens to ensure compliance.

Im Dickicht des Außenwirtschaftsrechts fliegt so manches Regelwerk „unter dem Radar“ – so auch die Verordnung (EU) 649/2012 (PIC-Verordnung) über die Aus- und Einfuhr gefährlicher Chemikalien. In dieser Ausgabe unserer ESG-Briefing-Reihe stellen wir die Anforderungen an den Ex- und Import gefährlicher Chemikalien im Überblick dar.