MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[After 25 years of negotiation, the Mercosur-EU agreement takes effect this Friday]]> The accord was signed on January 17th in La Asunción, Paraguay The association agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) enters provisionally into force on Friday May 1, after more than a quarter-century of negotiations, in what constitutes one of the world's most ambitious trade deals and the largest reciprocal opening ever finalised by the South American bloc. The final signing took place on January 17 in Asunción and, although final ratification by the European Court of Justice and subsequent approval by the European Parliament remain pending, provisional entry into force allows the immediate start of tariff reductions covering 95% of Mercosur products and 91% of EU products.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 06:40:00 GMT <![CDATA[Ex-President Lacalle Pou: 'I will not die without seeing Paraguay have a sea outlet in Uruguay']]> Lacalle Pou revealed that private investors are already exploring possible sites for the project Former Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou (2020-2025) reignited the debate on Tuesday over the construction of a port in Uruguayan territory aimed at providing Paraguay with maritime access, during an event in the Paraguayan city of Santa Rita, in the Alto Paraná department. “I will not die without truly seeing Paraguay have a sea outlet in Uruguay. I am convinced we must move forward on this,” the political leader said at the gathering held to mark the tenth anniversary of the alliance between local company Sul América Insumos Agrícolas and Uruguayan firm Proquimir.

]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:22:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay attracts record foreigners with low taxes and new investor residency program]]> Paraguay consolidated over recent decades a simplified tax structure known as “10-10-10”: 10% VAT, 10% personal income tax and 10% corporate income tax. Foreign residency applications in Paraguay surged 85% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 18,071 compared to 9,760 in the same period of 2025, the National Migration Directorate reported. Temporary residency requests jumped 105% to 14,995, while permanent residency applications rose 25% to 3,076.

]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:17:00 GMT <![CDATA[At least 12 schools in Paraguay receive shooting threats; authorities probe possible viral "challenge"]]> The phenomenon extends beyond Paraguay. In Argentina, threats with nearly identical messages — “Tomorrow, shooting. Don't come” — appeared in at least a dozen schools across Buenos Aires At least 12 schools in Paraguay received shooting threats between Thursday and Friday, with messages written on bathroom walls reading "tomorrow there will be a shooting," said Sonia Escauriza, director of Child and Adolescent Protection at the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC). The figure rose to 13 in the following hours, according to the same official in statements to radio station Universo 970 AM.

]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:17:00 GMT <![CDATA[“We are oppressed in Brazil”: thousands of conservative Brazilians seek new life in Paraguay]]> Paraguay broke a record in 2025 by granting 40,600 residency permits to foreigners. More than half — 23,500 — went to Brazilians, far outpacing the 4,300 Argentines in second place Hundreds of Brazilians camped overnight on beach chairs, plastic benches and tarps outside an immigration center in Ciudad del Este, on the border with Brazil, to secure a spot in a Paraguayan government drive to fast-track residency applications. Some organized an improvised barbecue on a barrel while they waited. Others had traveled more than 1,500 kilometers by bus. All shared a common thread: the desire to leave Brazil for reasons they describe as political, economic and ideological, according to a report by BBC News Brasil.

]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:08:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay expects over US$1 billion in Singapore carbon credit investments]]> De Barros said President Santiago Peña received the delegation and expressed confidence that if ”all processes of interest with Singapore are completed Paraguay's government expects investments from Singapore in carbon credit projects to exceed $1 billion, Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Rolando De Barros said on Wednesday, as a delegation from the Asian nation visited Asunción led by Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu Hai Yen, accompanied by 20 business executives.

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Holy Week boosts Paraguayan tourism: 90% hotel occupancy and 36% revenue increase]]> Senatur promoted the season under its “Guide Your Inner Self” campaign Domestic tourism during Holy Week in Paraguay grew 15% compared with the previous year, with 409,431 visitors generating revenue of $55.5 million, a 36% increase, the National Tourism Secretariat (Senatur) reported based on data from its Tourism Observatory.

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:15:00 GMT <![CDATA[Lula and Peña agree to accelerate Itaipú treaty review]]> Annex C stipulates that both countries are entitled to 50% of the energy generated, but requires whichever party does not use its full share to sell the surplus to the other at preferential rates The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Paraguay, Santiago Peña, agreed on Sunday in Campo Grande to intensify negotiations over Annex C of the Itaipú treaty, the instrument that governs the financial terms and energy sales of the binational hydroelectric dam, one of the largest in the world.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:53:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay and Germany seek to deepen trade ties under EU-Mercosur agreement]]> “We have very good relations with Paraguay — everything is in place to work very well here,” Herrera said. Relations between Paraguay and Germany are at a positive juncture, with prospects for growth in trade, investment and tourism, according to German Deputy Ambassador in Asunción Jörg Herrera, in an interview with state broadcaster Paraguay TV.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Peña promotes Paraguay as investment destination at meeting with Brazilian business leaders]]> We met with business leaders who already invest in Paraguay and want to expand, but also with new players who see a concrete opportunity in our country,” Peña said Paraguay's President Santiago Peña met on Sunday in Campo Grande, the capital of Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, with business leaders from the state's Federation of Industries (FIEMS) to promote investment opportunities in his country. The meeting, organized at the association's request, brought together representatives from sectors including bioenergy, food, construction and logistics.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:32:00 GMT