Uruguay XXI launched the Mercosur-European Union Agreement Portal

Following our landmark first shipment of value-added hake to Lithuania under the new Mercosur–European Union Interim Trade Agreement, we were honored to be invited by Uruguay XXI to share our experience as a case study during the official launch of the Mercosur–European Union Agreement Portal.

1. Presenting Real Impact on the Main Stage

During the event—which brought together high-level authorities including Minister of Economy and Finance Gabriel Oddone, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Valeria Csukasi, and Executive Director of Uruguay XXI Mariana Ferreira—our Director, Jimena Tortorella, took the stage to share how we turned trade agreement negotiations into immediate business results.

We showcased how dropping our import tariffs from 15% to 0% transformed our competitiveness in the European market, allowing our value-added fish products to enter Lithuania smoothly and tariff-free on day one of the agreement's provisional entry into force.

"This portal is of enormous value to SMEs that want to take advantage of this agreement. It eases the learning curve and provides critical market intelligence for companies without specialized foreign trade teams. I'm going to be a loyal user from now on." — Jimena Tortorella, Director at Foodsmart

2. The Power of Accessible Information for Exporting Companies

A key message from the presentation was that tariff benefits require preparation. To make our historic shipment happen, we spent months monitoring the negotiations, consulting with Foreign Affairs and Uruguay XXI, and meeting with over 60 prospective clients in Barcelona.

The newly launched portal translates a treaty hundreds of pages long into a clear, actionable tool for business decision-making.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        MERCOSUR - EU PORTAL                            │
│  [Treaty Translation] ──────► [Simplified Business Decisions]         │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                   │
       ┌───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┐
       ▼                           ▼                           ▼
Sanitary & Phytosanitary     Tariff Elimination           6-Step Export
     Requirements                 Schedules                   Guide

Key features of the portal highlighted during the presentation include:

• Intuitive Search: Find products without needing to know tariff codes in advance.

• Full Transparency: View MFN tariff rates, Mercosur preferences, reduction schedules, quotas, and rules of origin.

• Compliance Guide: Access sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical requirements alongside a practical six-step export guide.

• Market Intelligence: Explore import markets, competitors, and entry conditions for the EU.

3. Inspiring Other Companies to Expand Internationally

While MSMEs accounted for 61% of Uruguayan companies selling to the EU in 2025, they represented only 3% of the total export value. Sharing our story was about showing that with the right guidance, clear data, and early preparation, Uruguayan companies of all sizes can successfully access top-tier international markets and compete on equal footing.

We are proud to serve as an example of how public-private collaboration and strategic trade tools can create concrete growth opportunities.

Ready to explore opportunities for your business?

Check out the Mercosur–European Union Agreement Portal or reach out to Uruguay XXI's technical advisory team directly at acuerdoue@uruguayxxi.gub.uy.