The temporary opening of a 300,000-ton duty-free quota by the US comes at an opportune time for Paraguay, which in just two years has turned the US market into a destination for 10% to 15% of its beef exports.
Daniel Burt, general manager of the Paraguayan Meat Chamber, welcomed the measure because it is specifically aimed at countries without their own individual quotas, a group that includes Paraguay. “The United States is facing a beef shortage, and Paraguay is one of the main countries that could become a more important supplier to this market,” he said.
Through July, Paraguay had shipped about 30,000 tons to that destination, with an initial projection of ending 2026 at 60,000 tons under normal conditions. With the new window, Burt outlined the additional potential with an initial benchmark: “If that can be increased by 50%, it would already be a decisive factor for the Paraguayan beef industry this year.”
The immediate challenge is to turn the tariff opportunity into actual business.
The system operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so the CPC expects to begin talks with importers during September, October, and November to negotiate prices, volumes, and terms. Burt acknowledged that questions remain about some practical implementation requirements but stressed that the main advantage for Paraguay will be regaining competitiveness against other suppliers through the temporary removal of the out-of-quota tariff.
Source: La Nación Paraguay
