India-MERCOSUR PTA: Protocol Signed, Expansion Talks Begin

India and MERCOSUR took two steps on their trade pact on the same day. They signed the First Additional Protocol to the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement. They also announced the launch of negotiations to widen that agreement. MERCOSUR is the South American trade bloc whose members include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

What the Protocol does

The Protocol allows Certificates of Origin issued in electronic form to be accepted. Such a certificate will now carry the same legal validity as one issued on paper. It must be issued and signed electronically by authorised officials under each side's own law. The Protocol amends Article 16 of Annex III of the agreement, which holds the Rules of Origin. The change is meant to cut the cost and the time taken to issue and verify these certificates. It will come into force once both sides finish their internal procedures and inform each other.

Who signed it

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal signed for India. Alberto Guani, the Ambassador of Uruguay to India, and Fleming Raul Duarte Ramos, the Ambassador of Paraguay to India, signed for the other side. Mario Lubetkin, Foreign Minister of Uruguay, was present in his capacity as holder of the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR. Representatives of the embassies of Argentina and Brazil also attended.

Talks to expand the agreement

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Mario Lubetkin announced the start of negotiations to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement. Both sides agreed to bring in areas of mutual interest so that economic ties deepen and their private sectors gain. They are now finalising the Terms of Reference, which will fix the scope and the structure of the wider agreement.

The agreement in brief

How the Protocol came about

The idea came out of the Joint Administrative Committee of the agreement. At its fourth meeting, held on 27 November 2025, both sides backed an update that would let digital Certificates of Origin be used. The proposal for the Additional Protocol was then adopted by mutual consent at the fifth meeting of the Committee, held on 9 April 2026.