Trade
Mercosur Wants On-the-Fence EU to Know It Has Other Options
Trucks are loaded with clay soil containing bauxite in the quarry at a bauxite mine in Paragominas, Brazil.
Photographer: Paulo Fridman/Bloomberg
As the European Union struggles to complete a trade deal with Mercosur, competitors eyeing South America’s consumer market and vast mineral resources are taking note.
Spurred by Donald Trump’s tariffs, talks between the South American bloc and partners such as United Arab Emirates, Canada and India are gaining renewed importance while a divided EU wavers after more than a quarter-century of talks. The prospect of rivals locking in preferential access to Mercosur’s markets — including critical minerals — is sharpening attention in capitals from London to Tokyo.