EU trade agreements in Latin America: proving origin
Which EU agreements with Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Central America apply in 2026, and the proof of origin each one accepts.
Goods from Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and six Central American countries can enter the EU at preferential duty rates under trade agreements in force. Each agreement sets its own proof of origin. As of September 2026, the modernised EU-Mexico agreement is signed and approved on the EU side but not yet in force, so the agreement of 2000 still applies.
The preference is claimed only with the right proof for the right agreement. Without it, the goods pay the standard duty, even where they would have qualified.
Which EU trade agreements with Latin America apply in 2026?
Four agreements outside Mercosur matter for imports in 2026.
- Chile. The EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement (ITA), signed on 13 December 2023, entered into force on 1 February 2025. The broader Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) enters into force only when all EU member states complete ratification, and will then replace the ITA.
- Mexico. The EU-Mexico Global Agreement applies, with its free trade provisions in force since 2000 under Joint Council Decision 2/2000. The modernised agreement is covered below.
- Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The trade agreement entered fully into force on 1 November 2024. It had applied provisionally from 1 March 2013 for Peru, 1 August 2013 for Colombia and 1 January 2017 for Ecuador, which joined through an accession protocol.
- Central America. The trade pillar of the EU-Central America Association Agreement has fully applied since 1 May 2024 for Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, after provisional application in phases from 2013.
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay trade under a separate interim agreement, provisionally applied since 1 May 2026 and covered in the EU-Mercosur agreement: what changes for importers.
Is the modernised EU-Mexico agreement in force?
No, not as of September 2026. The EU and Mexico signed the modernised EU-Mexico Global Agreement and its Interim Trade Agreement on 22 May 2026. The Council of the EU gave final approval on 14 July 2026. Mexico’s ratification is pending, and the new agreement does not apply until it enters into force.
Until then, imports from Mexico continue under the 2000 agreement, with its own origin rules, proofs and preferential rates.
How is preferential origin proved under these agreements?
Each agreement names its own proof. The Commission’s Access2Markets pages give the current regime per partner.
| Partner | Proof of origin |
|---|---|
| Mexico, 2000 agreement | EUR.1 or origin declaration |
| Colombia, Peru, Ecuador | EUR.1 or origin declaration |
| Central America | EUR.1 or origin declaration; approved exporters for any value, other exporters up to EUR 6,000 |
| Chile, from 1 February 2025 | statement on origin, with a REX number for consignments above EUR 6,000 |
| Mercosur, from 1 May 2026 | statement on origin with the CNPJ, CUIT or RUT; certificates of origin accepted for up to five years |
The format differs by agreement, so a proof that is correct for Chile is not automatically correct for Colombia. The Registered Exporter (REX) system is the EU’s framework for self-certified statements on origin, and the Commission’s REX page lists Chile among its current agreements. Mercosur uses each country’s own tax or company identifier instead.
When can an exporter declare origin without registration?
Under several EU agreements, an exporter that is not registered may make out a statement on origin for a consignment up to EUR 6,000 ex-works, according to the Commission’s guidance on proof of origin. Above that value, the exporter needs the status its agreement requires: a REX number for Chile, or approved-exporter status under the Central America agreement.
The limit applies per consignment, so an exporter planning container loads checks its status before the first shipment.
Where does an importer check the preferential duty?
In TARIC, the EU’s integrated tariff database, and in the Commission’s Access2Markets My Trade Assistant. TARIC shows the rate for any HS code entering the EU, including preferential rates where proof of origin is provided. My Trade Assistant shows, per HS code and partner country, the preferential rate, the rules of origin and the documents required.
Every answer depends on classification. The HS code decides the duty line and the product-specific origin rule, as set out in HS codes and Binding Tariff Information.
A worked example
Suppose a food manufacturer has plants in Chile and Colombia and ships both lines to stock in Portugal. The details are hypothetical, for the mechanics only.
The Chilean consignment travels with a statement on origin. Because its value is above EUR 6,000, the exporter’s REX number appears on the statement. The Colombian consignment travels with an EUR.1 or an origin declaration under the agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. Each product’s rate is checked in My Trade Assistant with the right partner country. Both consignments are released for free circulation on arrival in Portugal, with the preference claimed on the declaration.
Food of animal origin also passes the border checks set out in importing food into the EU: border controls. If the group later adds a Mexican line, the rules of the 2000 agreement apply until the modernised agreement enters into force.
What does an importer check before claiming preference?
- The agreement that covers the country of origin, and whether it is in force on the import date.
- The HS code, and the preferential rate in TARIC or My Trade Assistant.
- The rule of origin for that code under that agreement.
- The proof the agreement accepts: EUR.1, origin declaration or statement on origin.
- The exporter’s status for the consignment value: REX number, approved exporter, or the EUR 6,000 limit.
- For Mexico, the status of the modernised agreement before any change of documents.
This is general information, not legal advice. Origin rules for a specific product are confirmed in the agreement’s origin protocol and with the importer’s customs advisers.
How this runs at EFC
EFC’s base in Portugal, run with its logistics partner, receives goods from Latin America and releases them for free circulation on arrival, which is the usual route, as described on release for free circulation. Bonded storage is used only where it suits the goods. EFC holds the released stock and fulfils orders across Europe. Consumer sales to other member states are declared through OSS, and B2B sales to buyers in other member states are zero rated under Article 138 of the VAT Directive. The exporter makes out the proof of origin, and EFC gives no legal advice on origin. Fiscal representation is described on fiscal representation.
Sources
| Label | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chile | ITA signed 13 December 2023; in force 1 February 2025; AFA pending ratification by all member states, then replaces the ITA | European Commission, EU-Chile agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Mexico, signature | modernised Global Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement signed 22 May 2026 | European Commission, EU-Mexico agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Mexico, approval | Council final approval 14 July 2026; Mexico’s ratification pending; not in force | Council of the EU, EU-Mexico final approval, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Mexico, current regime | free trade provisions in force since October 2000 (goods) and 2001 (services), Joint Council Decision 2/2000; EUR.1 or origin declaration | Access2Markets, EU-Mexico Global Agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Colombia, Peru, Ecuador | full entry into force 1 November 2024; earlier provisional dates per country | EUR-Lex summary, EU trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, proof | EUR.1 or origin declaration | Access2Markets, EU-Colombia, Peru, Ecuador trade agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Central America | six countries; fully applied since 1 May 2024; provisional application in phases from 2013 | European Commission, EU-Central America agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Central America, proof | EUR.1 or origin declaration; approved exporters for any value, other exporters up to EUR 6,000 | Access2Markets, EU-Central America Association Agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| REX | framework for self-certified statements on origin; Chile listed among current agreements | European Commission, Registered Exporter system, opened 2026-09-22 |
| EUR 6,000 | unregistered exporters may make out statements on origin for consignments up to EUR 6,000 ex-works | European Commission, proof of origin, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Mercosur, proof | statement on origin with CNPJ, CUIT or RUT; certificates accepted for up to five years | Access2Markets, application of the EU-Mercosur interim trade agreement, opened 2026-09-22 |
| Duty lookup | My Trade Assistant: rates, rules of origin and documents per HS code and partner | Access2Markets, opened 2026-09-22 |