Paraguay demands equitable share in Mercosur-EU deal

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña reiterated his country's firm stance on securing a fair share of export quotas within the Mercosur-European Union trade agreement. Speaking at the inauguration of Expo Paraguay, Peña stressed that Paraguay's participation is not a mere privilege but a fundamental right.

Peña recalled the recent Mercosur heads of state meeting in Paraguay, highlighting the signing of the Mercosur-EU agreement as a landmark achievement for the bloc. He clarified that Paraguay's support for the deal was contingent on a just and equitable distribution of benefits, not simply on the bloc's overall gain. "True integration is a vehicle to improve the lives of our peoples, our producers, and to be truly fair and equitable," Peña stated, underscoring Paraguay's position as a landlocked nation.

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The distribution of quotas must be recognized.

The president pointed out the logistical disadvantages faced by Paraguay, noting that every container exported incurs additional costs due to its lack of maritime access. He argued that this asymmetry must be acknowledged in the quota distribution. Peña asserted that Paraguay demonstrated flexibility by contributing to the agreement's finalization after 25 years of negotiations and now expects similar flexibility from other Mercosur members: Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Furthermore, the Association of Rural Producers of Paraguay (ARP) expressed strong support for the government's position on equitable quota distribution. The ARP also urged the government to pursue a dedicated import quota for Paraguayan beef with the United States through diplomatic and commercial channels, believing Paraguay possesses the necessary merits for such an allocation.

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It is a right, it is the right of you, those who raise, those who produce, those who work the land.