Mexico and the EU will sign a trade agreement that eliminates tariffs on 99% of traded goods

To sign the trade deal between Mexico and the European Union (EU), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa, and Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico City will meet this Friday.

Agricultural commerce will be facilitated by the agreement, which updates the one that has been in place since 2020. Eliminating tariffs on 99% of goods exchanged between the EU and Mexico.

Because tariffs on almost all important EU products will be removed either immediately upon the agreement’s entrance. Into force or within seven to ten years of its implementation, Brussels anticipates that this signing would increase sales to Mexico.

For instance, the tariff on 13,000 tons of pig, 20,000 tons of different kinds of cheese, and 13,000 tons of dairy goods has been reduced from 45% to 0%.

Mexico will completely eliminate its high tariffs to allow duty-free access for EU agri-food exports such as pasta (currently subject to tariffs of up to 20%), chocolate and confectionery (over 20%), blue cheese (up to 20%), potatoes (up to 20%), canned apples and peaches (up to 20%), eggs (up to 45%), and economically significant poultry products (up to 100%).

In addition, 568 European food and beverage products with protected geographical indications. Such as Rioja wine, Parma ham, and Roquefort cheese—will be protected in Mexico to prevent smuggling and the sale of imitations.

At the EU level, Mexico—with 131 million consumers—is Latin America’s second-largest importer of European agri-food products. With an annual value of 2.7 billion euros, according to 2024 data from the European Commission.

Of that total, exports of prepared foods amounted to 264 million euros. Cereal preparations, 229 million; fruits and vegetables, 228 million; wine, 210 million; and dairy products, 200 million, among other foods and beverages.