The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) met with European diplomatic representatives to assess the progress of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, focusing on tariff quotas that could expand access for Paraguayan products to the European market. The meeting was attended by Minister Marco Riquelme, EU Ambassador Katja Afheldt, and the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Danielle Dunne, and France, Pierre Christian Soccoja.
During the meeting, export opportunities for strategic items such as beef, poultry, pork, rice, corn, honey, dairy products, ethanol, and organic sugar were discussed. According to the Paraguayan government, the agreement came into force on May 1, providing for the gradual reduction of trade and tariff barriers between the two blocs, which together represent more than 700 million consumers. Full ratification of the Mercosur-EU deal has not yet been independently confirmed.
Highlights include the total elimination of the tariff on the Hilton Quota for beef since the agreement's entry into force, zero-tariff quotas for poultry, pork, rice, and honey, as well as an exclusive quota of 10,000 tons per year of organic sugar with zero tariff and, according to the government, immediate access to the European market without regional competition. Paraguay also obtained an additional allocation of 1,500 tons of pork within the Mercosur quota.
Minister Marco Riquelme stated, in a government messaging tone, that the country is prepared to make a historic leap in its industrial development and global integration. "We will continue working so that Paraguay becomes a protagonist of this new industrial revolution and an increasingly attractive destination for global capital and production," he declared. Authorities also highlighted the country's potential as a destination for European investment, citing competitive advantages such as a young population, the availability of clean and abundant energy, and favorable conditions for industrial development.