EU–Mercosur Agreement Expands Trade Opportunities For Cyprus

EU – Mercosur Agreement As A Strategic Imperative

The EU–Mercosur trade agreement, currently under review by the European Court of Justice following a European Parliament decision, would establish one of the world’s largest free trade areas. The deal предусматриває phased tariff elimination on approximately 92% of Mercosur goods over 10 years.

Current EU tariffs on most agricultural and agro-food imports range between 10% and 20%. The agreement includes quota systems and safeguard mechanisms allowing temporary tariff reinstatement in cases of import surges or demonstrated harm to EU producers.

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Deepening Trade Ties With Argentina

Data from Cyprus’ Ministry of Commerce for 2024 show significant reliance on Argentine soybean meal for animal feed. Imports reached €64.8 million, with Argentina covering 96.2% of Cyprus’ demand.

Imports from Brazil totaled €15.18 million, largely driven by coffee and concentrated fruit juices. Tariffs on soybean meal, currently between 10% and 14%, are expected to decline gradually to 0% during the transition period. Similar reductions apply to selected categories, including shelled peanuts and citrus products.

Brazil: A Critical Source Of Raw Materials And Industrial Goods

In 2024, Brazil supplied 80.06% of Cyprus’ imported unroasted coffee (€4.37 million) and 62.10% of concentrated orange juice imports (€6.35 million, 1.43 million kilograms).

Import duties vary by category. Coffee carries a 0% tariff, while fruit juices, footwear, vehicles, and machinery face duties ranging from 4% to 20%, reflecting broader EU trade structures.

Implications For Cypriot Exports

Cyprus’ exports to Argentina totaled €1.78 million in 2024. Machinery and mechanical equipment accounted for more than 55% of export value, followed by pharmaceuticals, plastic components, and water filtration systems.

Export volumes remain limited, highlighting the asymmetric structure of bilateral trade.

Looking Ahead: The EU – Mercosur Opportunity

The agreement предусматриває tariff elimination on approximately 91% of EU exports to Mercosur over a decade. For Cyprus, this could improve access to selected industrial and pharmaceutical products.

The economic impact will depend on implementation timelines and the ability of Cypriot firms to compete within Mercosur markets.

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Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

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Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

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