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EU–Mercosur: European court rejects Poland’s request for suspension
Warsaw’s request to suspend provisional application of the trade agreement was rejected on 29 September. The main case remains to be examined: this decision concerns urgent interim measures.
Original AI-generated illustration: a symbolic composition about farming and international trade. It does not depict a documented location or event.
Poland has failed to secure the suspension it sought concerning the interim trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. In a press release published on 29 September 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union announced that its Vice-President had dismissed Warsaw’s application for interim measures.
Urgency was not demonstrated
According to the Court, Poland did not provide sufficiently concrete evidence of a risk of serious and irreparable damage justifying suspension before judgment. Warsaw cited agricultural competition and concerns about production conditions, health and the environment, among other arguments.
These arguments represent Poland’s position in the proceedings. The order does not definitively determine the legality of the contested decision: judgment on the merits will come later.
An agreement already provisionally applied
The interim trade agreement has been provisionally applied since 1 May 2026. It covers the EU and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Its provisions include tariff reductions and easier access to certain markets.
The Council of the EU distinguishes this trade instrument from the wider partnership agreement, which also includes political dialogue and cooperation. The two texts follow different ratification procedures.
Agriculture remains central to the debate
The Council of the EU also sets out a safeguard mechanism for sensitive agricultural products. Subject to conditions, it allows tariff preferences to be suspended temporarily when imports cause injury to European producers.
Dismissal of the interim application therefore allows provisional application to continue while Poland’s legal challenge remains open. Following the case will require distinguishing observed trade effects, possible use of safeguards and the future judgment. These three stages address different questions.