EU - Mercosur. A Never Ending Story?

There are few greater examples of the long-term failings of the European Union, than the EU-Mercosur trade deal negotiations. When you spend 25 years trying to negotiate a trade deal, only to have the end product mired in controversy and likely to be refused by EU member states, you know you have a problem.

In June of 2019, before the UK had been able to free itself from the European Union through Brexit, the EU and the Mercosur South American trade bloc announced that they had finally concluded negotiations on a trade agreement. Much was made at the time by the usual pro-EU suspects, of how the UK would be missing out on this amazing trade deal if it went through with Brexit. Now six years later, the same deal has finally reached the point where the EU can start the process of ratification. Six years. So still many years away from actually being in effect, if that ever happens.

It is equal parts tragic and hilarious, that there are still those in positions of influence within the UK who think that this is somehow a demonstration of competency, of something we should want to be a part of. Just to give some colour to this, some comparison – in the time it has taken for the EU to get from concluding negotiations to commencing the ratification process, the UK has negotiated and signed trade deals with 103 countries – including brand new ones with Australia, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, India and the CPTPP.

But I can hear you say from here, that this time has no doubt been spent working through all the kinks with the member states, so that the deal can fly through the ratification process. That their diligent work upfront will come good in the long run. Well, I hate to break it to you, but this could not be further from the truth. Six member states are currently opposed to the deal in its current form, the largest being France, Italy and Poland. The six member states opposing the deal collectively represent 263 million EU citizens, and so if they maintain their opposition then the deal will be dead in the water. Their arguments against the deal are predominantly protectionist in nature – that South America are large agrifood producers and these member states do not want to allow competition for their farmers.

These debates will of course not be settled quickly, as that is as demonstrated above simply not the EU way. The debate over the deal will go on for years, while the UK in the meantime will continue to secure new trade deals around the globe, and updating rolled over EU deals alongside that to give further benefits to UK businesses and consumers.

The argument that the UK had access to better trade deals through EU membership is dead. The UK can move quicker and more effectively on its own, without the lethargic and politically constipated EU slowing it down and limiting ambition. The sooner the pro-EU zealots come to realise this, the sooner the country can move forward together.

Gully Foyle is an outspoken online researcher, commentator and now published author, whose first book "75 Brexit Benefits: Tangible Benefits from The UK Having Left The European Union" is on sale now at Amazon and all good bookstores.