The Parliament of Uruguay definitively approved on Thursday the trade agreement between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU), making the country the first in the South American bloc to ratify it. The Senate had approved the agreement unanimously on Wednesday, with support from the ruling coalition and the opposition, and only the decision of the Chamber of Deputies was left. The text was ratified by the deputies on Thursday with 91 votes in favor and 2 against, with 93 of the 99 deputies present. Potential beneficiaries include producers of meat, dairy, and grains, as well as export sectors of manufactures and services. What's next: in addition to presidential promulgation, the approval of the political and association component by the parliaments of Mercosur and the EU member states remains. The final implementation will depend on the agreed schedules and any complementary internal measures in each country.
