Negotiations to finalize the free trade agreement between Mercosur and Canada advanced with a meeting of thematic groups in Toronto, Canada, from May 25 to 29. The 10th Round of Negotiations deepened discussions on the consolidation of the treaty, which had resumed in October of last year.

The highlight of the meeting was the in-person sessions held by technical groups on the trade in goods, services, and financial services; the temporary entry of business travelers; rules of origin; intellectual property; bilateral safeguards; sustainable development; inclusive trade; and legal and institutional issues.

In addition to the technical discussions, Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu met with chief negotiators from Mercosur.

At the previous meeting, in late April, discussions focused on rules of origin, intellectual property, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, and trade and sustainable development.

The parties expect to finalize the agreement at further meetings in the first half of the year, with dates to be determined.

Brazil and Canada

In 2025, trade between Brazil and Canada saw a significant increase after both countries were affected by trade barriers imposed by the US government. Bilateral trade reached USD 10.4 billion last year. Brazilian exports to the Canadian market totaled USD 7.3 billion in 2025 – a 14.8 percent surge over the previous year and a historic record for the series.

Mercosur

The resumption of bloc-level negotiations has been a priority for the current Mercosur administration, chaired by the Paraguayan government. The agreement with the European Union entered into force on May 1.

The bloc has also made progress in discussions with other Latin American countries, such as Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, as well as in talks with the United Arab Emirates and the EFTA, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

The Brazilian government last Friday (May 22) proposed a regional pact against femicide in Mercosur, inspired by Brazil’s model of collaboration among its three branches of government. The initiative was presented by Women’s Minister Márcia Lopes during the 26th Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities for Women of Mercosur (RMAAM) in Asunción, Paraguay.

According to the minister, the proposal envisions cooperation among the bloc’s countries to strengthen policies for violence prevention, protection, and increased access to justice.

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“It is a political commitment among all Mercosur member and associate states to act in a coordinated and cooperative manner, respecting their sovereignties, competences, and national legal frameworks, to address femicide as a regional priority,” said Lopes.

Uruguay supported the proposal and pledged to keep the debate moving during its Mercosur presidency. Argentina, in turn, said it would continue its internal consultations on the matter.

In addition to the regional pact, the Brazilian government presented measures on digital platform regulation and combating violence against women in virtual environments.

“Brazil is taking the lead with the decrees announced by President Lula this week to protect women and with key measures on digital platform regulation,” the minister stated.

The country also shared the results of the first 100 days of the Brazilian Pact Against Femicide with the Paraguayan government. According to the Ministry of Women, the initiative led to the arrest of 6,300 abusers, slashed the review time for protective measures from 16 days to under three, and monitored more than 6,500 women using electronic devices.

Cooperation

Paraguayan Minister for Women Alicia Pomata advocated for expanding regional cooperation to address inequalities.

“Regional integration must be built from a perspective that places women at the center, recognizing their realities and valuing their contributions to the development of our nations,” Pomata declared.

The meeting’s program included debates on access to justice, digital violence, women’s economic empowerment, and care policies. Actions from the RMAAM’s 2025-2026 Work Plan were also discussed, focusing on topics such as gender-based political violence, trafficking of women, and mutual recognition of protective measures.

Created in 2011, RMAAM is the main Mercosur body focused on coordinating gender equality policies among the bloc’s member and associate countries.

Mercosur

Mercosur is a South American regional integration bloc created in 1991 and composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. Venezuela is also a member, but has been suspended since 2016 due to political issues.