Cepi signs appeal to the European Parliament recommending approval of the Mercosur agreement
On February 17, 2026, CEPI, as one of many European industry organizations, joined a group of signatories to a joint industry appeal addressed to the European Parliament, recommending the ratification of the trade agreement with Mercosur countries (EMPA: EU-Mercosur Partnership). The justification emphasized the potential benefits in terms of eliminating tariffs and non-tariff barriers and supporting the growth of European pulp and paper companies, which are among the largest exporters in the EU manufacturing sector. It was pointed out that the proposed agreement aims to eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of goods traded between the EU and Mercosur countries, including the elimination of tariffs on 85% of pulp and 90% of paper and cardboard from the EU to Mercosur. According to Cepi, this move opens up new markets for European producers, who have so far maintained a trade imbalance with their South American counterparts. Since 2004, the EU has maintained zero import tariffs on pulp, paper, cardboard, and related products, including those originating in Mercosur countries. At a time when trade relations between the EU and the US have become strained, trade in pulp and paper between the EU and Mercosur remains particularly interdependent. Europe is a global net exporter of high-quality paper and cardboard, but it is also a significant importer of market pulp from Mercosur, an important raw material in paper production.
