December 19, 2025 –"The fact that the Mercosur agreement has been postponed once again shows that the EU is not a stable anchor in times of trade policy turbulence. The days ahead must now be used for political negotiations instead of Christmas holidays. This agreement, after 25 years of negotiations and back-and-forth, must truly come to fruition in January. Given the current economic crisis, it is more important than ever for German and European companies. It provides new market opportunities and better-secured supply chains for energy and essential raw materials from South America, among others. It is also a strong foundation for the prosperity of the partner regions that could then form the world's largest free trade zone. Therefore, the now overdue signing is a make-or-break issue for the direction of our economy. Our competitors from the USA and particularly China do not hesitate but act decisively, for instance, regarding critical raw material supply. Germany must finally make this agreement a top priority and move other member states toward rapid approval. Ultimately, Europe is now at stake regarding a fundamental question of credibility and reliability that all our trading partners worldwide are posing."