The allocation of beef export quotas to the European Union once again emerged as one of Paraguay's main concerns during the 68th Ordinary Meeting of Mercosur's Common Market Council (CMC).
Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano said that the implementation of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union must ensure a "fair, balanced, and equitable" distribution of benefits among all member states.
Paraguay formally expressed its concerns over the criteria currently being considered for allocating export quotas to the European market, arguing that the volumes envisaged for the country do not reflect either its production capacity or the commitments made during the negotiations.
"Paraguay is not asking for privileges; it is demanding fairness," Ramírez Lezcano said, insisting that Mercosur's credibility will depend on ensuring that the benefits arising from the agreement effectively reach all member countries.
For Paraguay's beef sector, the allocation of export quotas is one of the most sensitive aspects of the agreement's implementation, as preferential access to the European market is considered a strategic tool for supporting product differentiation and capturing greater value from beef exports. The other member countries favor a quota allocation based on historical export performance, an approach that would primarily benefit Brazil and Argentina.
Source: Valor Agro
