-
The Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, and the Mercosur Association for Standardization (AMN) have renewed their agreement to facilitate trade within the context of the alliance between Mercosur and the European Union (EU), during the General Assembly of COPANT in Cuba.
- The agreement opens new perspectives for technical and economic cooperation between both regions and positions international standardization as a strategic pillar to facilitate trade, strengthen the competitiveness of their companies, and promote sustainable innovation.
Havana (Cuba), 9 May 2025 - The Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, and the Mercosur Association for Standardization (AMN) have renewed their agreement to boost exports and trade exchanges within the context of the advancements in the alliance between Mercosur and the European Union (EU). The signing took place during the General Assembly of COPANT (Pan American Commission of Technical Standards), held in Havana (Cuba) from May 4th to 7th. UNE is the national representative of COPANT.
The agreement opens new perspectives for technical and economic cooperation between both regions of the world and positions international standardization as a strategic pillar to facilitate trade, strengthen the competitiveness of their companies, and promote sustainable innovation.
The very EU-Mercosur agreement, finalized at the end of 2024, recognizes the value of international standards as a common reference for market access. It also highlights the commitment to regulatory and standardization cooperation, promoting interoperability and reducing technical barriers to trade. Furthermore, it emphasizes support for sustainability, where standardization will play a key role in aligning industrial and environmental practices.
The Director General of UNE, Javier García, and the Executive President of AMN, Ricardo Fragoso, have signed the renewal of the agreement between both entities, which dates back to 2018.
Technical standards are the language spoken in international markets. In fact, more than 90% of global trade is backed by standards or associated technical regulations. 87.7% of UNE standards have a European or international origin, which facilitates exports for companies. Technical standards reflect the market consensus on best practices in key aspects for the competitiveness of organizations.
The renewed agreement between UNE and AMN reaffirms the joint commitment to continue working on these shared objectives, driving the harmonization of standards and best practices that provide value to both the Mercosur countries and those of the European Union, benefiting organizations and consumers in both regions.
The members of AMN are the standardization bodies of Paraguay (INTN); Brazil (ABNT); Uruguay (UNIT) and Argentina (IRAM). In addition, the standardization bodies of Bolivia (IBNORCA) and Chile (INN) are associate members.
UNE, as a global organization, works vigorously to develop agreements with standardization entities from Latin American countries aimed at technical harmonization and boosting trade. It currently has 14 active harmonization agreements with standardization bodies from this region.
