
By Oliver Pieper - The free trade deal between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur could become the world's largest agreement, involving a market of a total of 780 million people. But in late March, French President Emmanuel Macron not only described it as “a very bad agreement,” he even suggested it should be “left behind” and called for “a new agreement.”

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña highlighted his country's “remarkable growth” and “flourishing democracy” in contrast with Argentina's mercurial performance. He made those remarks late Wednesday upon receiving the “CHLI Founders Award for International Leadership” during the Annual Gala and Leadership Awards in Washington DC.

Just days after Paraguayan beef was granted access to the Canadian market, a report was released in Asunción Wednesday showing that cattle slaughtering increased 23% in April. Another 33,310 heads were put down last month for a total of 646,222 in the first four months of the year, which represented a 3.9% yoy growth.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña left Tuesday for the United States to participate in a series of engagements regarding security and technology until May 17 when he will go to Taiwan. Peña took heavy criticism for bringing along his son Gonzalo Peña. The head of state said he would cover his son's expenses with his own money but is yet to show concrete evidence thereof.

Canada's Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) greenlighted the entry of Paraguayan meat into their market with nine packing plants already authorized to start shipments. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña celebrated the good news with postings on social media. I congratulate all the institutions and sectors involved for this important achievement, he wrote.

The Governor of the Argentine province of Corrientes Gustavo Valdés insisted that the Foreign Ministry and the Senate should get involved after another clash was reported between unauthorized Paraguayan fishermen and the Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval Argentina - PNA). “I hope they take care and do not continue denying the conflict as they have been,” Valdés underlined.

Ms Danielle Dunne has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay in succession to Mr Ramin Navai who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment in El Salvador. Ms Dunne will take up her appointment during January 2025.

Paraguay's Export Single Window Consortium (Convue) confirmed this week that shipments in the first four months of 2024 reached US$ 2,790 million, representing a US$ 380 million yoy increase as per the Single Export Window System (DGVUE), under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, based on certificates of origin.

Water levels below average at the Paraná-Paraguay river waterway have traders concerned over the future of their business. However, there seems to be consensus on the need to develop a master plan to tackle the grim situation stemming from discouraging precipitation forecasts despite abundant rainfall in recent weeks.

Paraguayan health authorities said the number of dengue cases was declining. Still, they told the population to look out for oropouche, another mosquito-borne virus that causes symptoms similar to those of dengue. Instead of the Aedes Aegypti, or pouches is carried by the Culicoides Paraensis mosquito.