Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have jointly praised the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement during Lula's visit to the Hannover Messe industrial fair in Germany, framing the deal as a counterweight to what they described as "unilateralism" — a thinly veiled reference to Donald Trump's trade policies. The agreement, which covers a combined market of roughly 720 million people and a GDP of $23 trillion, is set to enter into provisional force on 1 May. Merz declared the deal would make all participating economies "stronger, more independent, and more resilient," while the two leaders also agreed to deepen cooperation on decarbonising combustion-engine vehicles, with Brazil highlighting its bioethanol expertise as a key contribution.