The Mexican flag flies over the Zocalo in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 1, 2025. (Photo: Jose Luis Torales/NurPhoto via AP)
The European Union and Mexico have signed a new trade agreement that will remove or reduce import duties on a wide range of food and drink products while expanding protections for hundreds of geographical indications, according to statements from the European Commission and industry groups cited by Drinks Intel.
The agreement removes or reduces tariffs on a wide range of food and beverage products, with the most notable impact for the drinks sector coming from expanded market access for European wine, beer and spirits.
Under the deal, Mexico will eliminate tariffs on a broad range of EU agricultural and beverage exports. That includes steep duties previously applied to products such as pork and poultry. Within the beverage sector, wine and spirits stand to benefit from improved trade conditions.
Wine exports from the EU already entered Mexico duty-free under prior arrangements, but the updated agreement strengthens protections for European geographical indications, reinforcing legal safeguards for products such as Rioja wine, Champagne and Chianti, according to Drinks Intel
Mexico will extend protection to 232 EU spirits geographical indications, alongside hundreds of additional protected food and drink names across beer, wine and other categories, according to Drinks Intel. This expands recognition of heritage categories and strengthens enforcement against imitation products in the Mexican market.
Industry groups representing the sector welcomed the agreement.
“Mexico is the number one market in Latin America for EU spirits exports, and a key partner for the future of our sector,” EU spirits trade group SpiritsEurope said, according to Just Drinks. “We now call on both parties to complete the ratification process as soon as possible to provide certainty for businesses, support exports, and reinforce open, rules-based trade.”
The agreement also formalizes recognition of Mexican spirits and food products in the EU market, including tequila and agave-based spirits, reinforcing two-way protection for geographically defined products.
Trade in wine and spirits between the EU and Mexico has grown steadily in recent years.
“Since the EU-Mexico FTA first entered into force in 1999, EU spirits exports to Mexico have increased more than fivefold, growing from EUR22m (then-US$25.7m) to over EUR119m (US$138.5m) in 2025,” SpiritsEurope said, per Drinks Intel. “Today, Mexico represents a dynamic and growing market for a wide range of European spirits categories. In addition, the agreement will reinforce existing strong ties between the two regions, which are both significant spirits producers.”