IFA president Francie Gorman blasts EC decision to provisionally apply Mercosur agreement

EU normally waits for approval of its free trade agreements by EU governments and the European Parliament

IFA President Francie Gorman has criticised an EC decision to provisionally apply the Mercosur free trade agreement. Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke

The European Union will provisionally apply a contentious free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur to ensure it secures first-mover advantage, the European Commission said on Friday, in a move which the IFA said failed to respect a recent European Parliament vote. 

The agreement can enter into force provisionally two months after an exchange of notifications with Mercosur members, the Commission said.