1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
MpoxUkraineIsrael-Hamas war
Paraguay, Uruguay Brazil and Argentina flags layered on top of each other
Image: Isac Nobrega/Palacio Planalto/dpa/picture allianceImage: Isac Nobrega/Palacio Planalto/dpa/picture alliance

Mercosur

Latin American and EU countries want to conclude a free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur nations of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. But hurdles remain.

Skip next section All Content on this topic

All Content on this topic

Still DW-Interview mit Mauricio Macri

Argentina – Failure not an option?

DW Interview with Argentine President Mauricio Macri.
PoliticsApril 23, 201712:08 min
Deutschland Uruguay Angela Merkel und Tabare Vazquez

Merkel and Vazquez talk EU and Mercosur

The chancellor has met with Uruguay's president to forge new bonds in the wake of Donald Trump's inauguration in the US.
BusinessFebruary 8, 2017
Mercosur member flags

Venezuela cedes Mercosur presidency to Argentina

Venezuela has formally ceded the rotating presidency of Mercosur to Argentina amid a dispute over its suspension.
PoliticsDecember 31, 2016
Symbolbild mercosur Schriftzug Fahnen

Venezuela to be suspended from trade bloc

Venezuela is expected to be suspended from Mercosur for failing to meet economic, human rights and immigration accords.
BusinessDecember 2, 2016
Symbolbild Mercosur

Mercosur threatens to suspend Venezuela

The Mercosur trading bloc has threatened to suspend Venezuela for its failure to meet membership requirements.
September 14, 2016
Berlin merkel und Argentinischer Präsident Macri

Argentine president visit Merkel in Berlin

Argentine President Mauricio Macri has arrived in Berlin to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
July 5, 2016
MERCOSUR Gipfel Paraguay Gruppenfoto

Mercosur: Just an ordinary family?

Twenty-five years ago, South America fulfilled its dream of a common market.
March 26, 2016
Symbolbild Mercosur

Expanding Mercosur

Argentina's new president wants to push free trade, but he's encountering resistance from Brazil.
December 20, 2015
Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela's crumbling alliances

Venezuela's political and economic crisis drives away the waning regional power's partners.
December 3, 2015
Dilma Rousseff and Angela Merkel in Brasilia (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

More recognition for Brazil

Germany and Brazil aren't as close as they should be, DW's Astrid Prange writes.
August 20, 2015
The heads of state of Mercosur's five members pose for a photo-op

Mercosur summit

Mercosur is hoping to shrug off its toothless image as its member sates meet in Caracas.
July 29, 2014

Interview with Uruguay's president José Mujica

DW's Jenny Pérez Schmidt quizzes Uruguay's president José Mujica on his fight against poverty, the legalization of marijuana and Latin America's relations with the EU.
PoliticsJuly 13, 201412:06 min
Symbolbild Beziehung Brasilien Deutschland: Angela Merkel und Dilma Rousseff

Stronger ties

Dilma Rousseff and Angela Merkel emphasized common interests during their meeting in Brazil.
June 16, 2014
Dilma Rousseff Angela Merkel Treffen Brasilien

Rousseff and Merkel meet

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff during a short visit to Brasilia. The chancellor is in Brazil to attend the German national football team's first World Cup match.
June 16, 2014
Marc Koch (Foto: DW)

Opinion: Chile's hope

Michelle Bachelet can unify Chile - and maybe Latin America, says DW's Marc Koch.
March 12, 2014
external

Brazil's economy stalled

Brazil's economy has stalled in the last few years, despite huge investment in the upcoming World Cup. Its GDP has shrunk from a hefty 7.5 percent in 2010 to just under 1 percent in 2012.
BusinessFebruary 12, 201401:25 min
At the port of Manaus Amazonia Brasil

Brazilian-EU trade move

The Brazilian government has indicated it's willing to take trade with the European Union to the next level. It looked prepared to push for a deal without waiting for Latin America's Mercosur trade bloc.
August 12, 2013
A woman burns US flags during a protest in support of Bolivian President Evo Morales in front of the US embassy in Mexico City, on July 4, 2013. Leftist Latin American leaders gathered in the Bolivian central city of Cochabamba on Thursday to back President Evo Morales, fuming after some European nations temporarily refused his plane access to their airspace amid suspicions US fugitive Edward Snowden was aboard. Snowden is seeking sanctuary in several nations to evade US espionage charges. AFP PHOTO/RONALDO SCHEMIDT (Photo credit should read Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images)

Snowden 'bonus'

Latin American leaders could benefit from the scandal surrounding US spying activities.
July 13, 2013
Flags of the Mercosur trading bloc member states are seen waving during a demonstration to support Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at Plaza de la Republica square in Buenos Aires, Argentina on July 24, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/GettyImages)

Mercosur assails US over spying

South American Mercosur bloc leaders have told the US to stop alleged spying on telecommunications in their region. The five-nation group insisted on their right to offer asylum to US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
July 12, 2013
Detailed 3d rendering of the flag of Paraguay hanging on a flag pole and waving in the wind against a blue sky. © Fotolia/ mtrommer

Cartes' return

Ten months after Fernando Lugo's impeachment, Paraguay returned conservatives to power.
April 21, 2013
(L-R) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, Uruguay's President Jose Mujica and Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner pose for an official photo during the Special MERCOSUR Summit at Planalto Palace in Brasilia July 31, 2012. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino (BRAZIL - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

Venezuela joins Mercosur

South America's main trade bloc has welcomed Venezuela into its fold. But Caracas' membership could sow internal divisions within the organization.
August 1, 2012
Group photo of leaders gathered at Mercosur summit in Mendoza

Paraguay ostracized further

Two major South American groups have suspended the membership of Paraguay for having impeached and ousted its president. But the trade bloc Mercosur stopped short of imposing trade sanctions on the impoverished country.
June 30, 2012

A little bit of free trade

China wants a free trade zone with Mercosur. But for that, some things will have to change.
June 28, 2012
Paraguayan Presidents Fernando Lugo (R) and Federico Franco (C)

Paraguayan isolation

Paraguay’s neighbors have condemned the dismissal of President Fernando Lugo. Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez went so far as to call his removal a coup.
June 25, 2012
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle speaking in a conference about 'The Euro and future of Europe' at the CNI (National Confederation of the Industry) in Brasilia, Brazil.

Westerwelle in Brazil

Germany's foreign minister has called for a free trade agreement between the EU and Latin American countries on a diplomatic trip to the region. Westerwelle started his tour in Brazil, a key trade partner for Germany.
February 14, 2012
Map of Central and South America

Another alliance

Latin American leaders gather in Caracas to launch a new regional alliance, to be known as CELAC.
December 3, 2011

The View of Europe Abroad

The US economist Jeremy Rifkin has called the European unification process "a silver lining on the dark cloud of our world." But how is the bloc perceived in the rest of the world?
March 30, 2005

Germany Supports EU-Mercosur Deal

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has said Berlin will fight to salvage a deal between the EU and the four-nation South American Mercosur trade bloc aimed at building the world's largest free-trade area.
November 20, 2004

EU-Mercosur Trade Needs Kickstart

The stalled free-trade talks between the European Union and the South American trading bloc Mercosur need a "kick-start" if they are to produce an agreement by the end of October, said EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy.
October 12, 2004

South American Trade Talks Suspended

Trade talks between the EU and key South American partners Mercosur have broken down amid divisions over market access.
July 22, 2004

EU-Mercosur on Course for October Trade Deal

Trade negotiators from the European Union and the South American trade bloc, Mercosur, say they are on course for a free trade deal by autumn.
May 7, 2004

Stronger Ties Between Europe and Latin America

Representatives from the European Union and Latin America have wrapped up a two-day summit in Madrid. They pledged to cooperate more closely on trade and in the fight against terrorism and drug-trafficking.
May 19, 2002

Argentina Rallies for Support at EU-Latin American Summit

Argentine President Eduardo Duhalde is in Spain to garner international aid needed to save his country from further economic ruin. But trouble‘s still ahead, depsite reforms approved to unlock frozen cash.
May 18, 2002