Paraguay Wants a Quarter of Mercosur’s EU Export Quotas
The four Mercosur countries have not agreed how to split the quotas the bloc won from Brussels. Paraguay wants them divided in equal quarters. The post Paraguay Wants a Quarter of Mercosur’s EU Export Quotas appeared first on The Rio Times .
Paraguay desires to secure a quarter of the EU export quotas that Mercosur has negotiated with the European Union, according to its Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez. This demand was expressed during a meeting with private sector groups on 18 August 2026. However, there is no consensus among Mercosur members, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, regarding the methodology for allocating these quotas.
Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay have reportedly favored an allocation based on market share, which would grant Paraguay a relatively small share due to its smaller economy and beef export levels. Paraguay argues that an equal split is more equitable, given its large cattle herd relative to its population. The EU-Mercosur association agreement provides tariff-rate quotas on various agricultural products, such as beef and sugar, with reduced tariffs.
Paraguayan beef currently sells to Chile, Russia, Taiwan, and Brazil. European access through reduced tariffs would open a higher-priced market for Paraguayan beef. However, compliance with strict traceability and deforestation rules is required. Paraguay has been working on satellite-based traceability and deforestation monitoring systems to meet these European standards.
The EU-Mercosur agreement has been signed but is not fully ratified in Europe, with several EU member states opposing it on agricultural grounds.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
