Paraguay seeks equal Mercosur export quotas in EU negotiations

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano is conducting diplomatic missions in Brussels and Paris to negotiate Mercosur export quotas to the European Union and advance Paraguay’s OECD accession.

Within Mercosur, a disagreement persists regarding the distribution of trade quotas under the free trade agreement with the EU. Paraguay is advocating for an equal 25% allocation for each of the four bloc members. This stance contrasts with the positions of Argentina and Uruguay, which favor using historical export averages as a benchmark, and Brazil, which suggests basing distribution on each country’s share of global trade.

While Paraguay maintains its demand for equitable distribution regardless of economic size, observers note that its productive and logistical capacity remains more limited than its partners. The negotiations are critical for determining the market access available to Paraguayan products under the preferential terms established in the agreement signed in Asunción.

In addition to trade discussions, Lezcano is meeting with French officials and the Secretary General of the OECD to support the government of Santiago Peña in its pursuit of full OECD membership.