The suspension of Brazilian beef exports to the European Union could redirect Brazil’s supply and increase competition for Paraguay in Chile and the United States, while Mercosur discusses how to divide a potential European quota.
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Pytagua coverage mentioning Estados Unidos.
The European Union’s two-year sanitary suspension of Brazilian beef could increase Paraguay’s presence in the European market, while also intensifying Brazilian competition in Chile and other regional destinations.
The Paraguayan national team will face Bolivia, led by Óscar Villegas, and Colombia, managed by Néstor Lorenzo, in friendlies in the U.S. in September, while working on renewing coach Gustavo Alfaro's contract.
Paraguayan exports of soybeans and derivatives totaled $3.5 billion in the first seven months of 2026, a 41% growth compared to the previous year, with Argentina as the main destination.
President Santiago Peña proposed career diplomat Estefanía Laterza de los Ríos to the Senate as Paraguay's ambassador to the US, filling the vacancy left by politician Gustavo Leite.
In a podcast interview, US Senator Marco Rubio joked about bombing Paraguay while recounting the effects of the ketogenic diet, a week before signing a nuclear agreement with the country.
Paraguay and the United States signed a memorandum for cooperation in civil nuclear energy, aiming to prepare the country to eventually adopt small-scale reactors and explore its uranium reserves, seeking to meet the growing energy demand projected for the next decade.
Paraguay repatriated 14 Central American migrants to their countries of origin, bringing the total number of people who have transited through the country under the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States to 52, an operation that received support from IOM.
Paraguay's hotel sector recorded 43% growth in the first half of 2026, with an average occupancy of 61% driven mainly by business tourism and markets from Argentina and Brazil.
Paraguay and the United States signed a civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement in Washington, with the leaders of both countries also addressing regional issues such as Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Paraguay's beef exports fell 24.6% in volume in the first seven months of 2026, but the total value declined only 9% due to an increase of more than 20% in the average price per kilogram.
The limited supply of fat cattle in Paraguay, caused by climatic factors and on-farm retention, is pushing prices upward and reducing slaughter schedules, intensifying competition among meatpacking plants amid external commercial pressure.
Brazil denies visas to two U.S. officials planning to meet with electoral authorities, citing risk of political manipulation, amid tensions between the two countries.
The Paraguayan passport rose to 28th place in the global ranking in July 2026, with visa-free access to 145 countries, rounding out the list of the ten most powerful in the Americas, behind Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and others.
Senator Gustavo Leite returns to the Paraguayan Senate after 11 months as ambassador to the U.S., defending his diplomatic tenure which included meetings with lawmakers and Trump, while the opposition criticizes the mission's high costs and lack of concrete results.
Paraguayan public officials are turning down cybersecurity scholarships donated by the United States because the courses and exams are in English—a language not required for their positions—amid a growing wave of cyberattacks against the state.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and U.S. Special Envoy Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun reinforced bilateral cooperation against antisemitism during a meeting in Washington, agreeing to strengthen actions and explore joint academic initiatives.
Paraguay's maquila export regime grew by 25% in the first half of 2026, reaching $717 million, with the Mercosur trade bloc as its main destination and a 6% increase in jobs.
The governments of Paraguay and the United States issued a joint statement denouncing cyber espionage operations against Paraguayan state networks, which they attribute to actors linked to the Chinese government.
German journalist Jonas Friedrich, who had called the Paraguayan national team "third-rate" before being eliminated by them, published a message of support for La Albirroja ahead of their Round of 16 match against France in the 2026 World Cup.
The EU's sanitary restrictions on Brazilian beef create opportunities for Paraguay to expand its exports to Europe, competing with Uruguay and Argentina for market share.
The 2026 school winter break in Paraguay will remain scheduled from July 13 to 24, with no changes despite the World Cup, after the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) concluded that the Paraguayan national team's night matches did not interfere with classes, and the tournament's key decisions will coincide exactly with the recess period.
Senator Rafael Filizzola stated that Paraguayan consumers are paying international prices for beef due to the sector's strong export orientation — around 90% of production is destined for the foreign market — and the high market concentration, in which five slaughterhouses account for approximately 85% of the country's beef processing. He voiced support for a bill that proposes capping the profit margin at 10% on three popular beef cuts.
The World Bank warns of a slowdown in global economic growth due to the conflict in the Middle East, but maintains an optimistic forecast of 4.4% GDP growth for Paraguay in 2026.