The statement was made in a joint press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services.

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“The Brazilian government will promptly take all necessary measures to reverse this decision, return to the list of authorized countries, and ensure the continued sale of these products to the European market,” the statement emphasizes.

Meeting scheduled

The government reported that the head of the Brazilian delegation to the European Union already has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday (May 13) with European health authorities.

The meeting will seek clarification on the reasons behind Brazil’s removal from the list of authorized exporters.

The European Union justified its decision based on rules related to the control of antimicrobial use in livestock farming.

Exports to continue

According to the report, the decision followed a vote by the European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food, and Feed, which is responsible for updating the list of countries authorized to export animal products to the European Union.

The government emphasized that, despite the decision, Brazilian exports are currently proceeding as normal and that the European measure is not expected to take effect until September 3, 2026.

Sanitary defense

In its official statement, the Brazilian government defended the quality of the national sanitary system and highlighted the track record of Brazilian agricultural exports.

According to the statement, Brazil has a “robust health system of internationally recognized quality” and is currently the world’s largest exporter of animal protein.

The government also emphasized that the country has been supplying agricultural products to the European market for approximately 40 years.

With no European Union tariffs, Brazilian companies will be able to sell most of their products to Europe without paying import duties, reducing costs and increasing their competitiveness against competitors from other countries.

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Of the 2,932 products that will have zero tariffs from the outset:

• About 93% (2,714) are industrial goods
• The remainder includes items from the food sector and raw materials

Among the sectors expected to feel the greatest positive impact are:

• Machinery and equipment (21.8% of the 2,932 products with immediate tariff elimination);
• Food (12.5%);
• Metallurgy (9.1%);
• Electrical machinery, equipment, and materials (8.9%);
• Chemical products (8.1%).

In the case of the machinery and equipment sector, for example, nearly 96 percent of Brazilian exports to Europe will now enter duty-free. This includes products such as compressors, industrial pumps, and mechanical parts.

Strategic agreement

The agreement is considered strategic because it significantly expands Brazil’s commercial reach. Currently, countries with which Brazil has trade agreements account for about 9 percent of global imports. With the European Union’s entry, that figure could rise to more than 37 percent.

In addition, the treaty provides greater predictability for companies, with clear rules on trade, government procurement, and technical standards.

Despite the immediate impact, not all products will have tariffs eliminated at once. For more sensitive items, the reduction will be phased in gradually:

• Within 10 years in the European Union;
• Within 15 years in Mercosur;
• In some specific cases, such as new technologies, the timeline may extend to 30 years.

Next steps

The agreement’s entry into force marks only the beginning of its implementation. The Brazilian government must still regulate details such as the distribution of export quotas among Mercosur countries.

In addition, business associations from both blocs are expected to create a committee to monitor the agreement’s implementation and help companies seize new opportunities.