Paraguay looks to expand its trade agenda with the United States

By BKM | Berkemeyer

Mario Abdo Benítez, President-elect of Paraguay, had an economic driven visit to the United States of America, meeting with representatives of Citi group, bond credit rating company Moody's and financial advisory Lazard to discuss economic policies and analyze possible investments for the country. Abdo Benítez, who will take office on August 15, 2018, also met with authorities of the Paraguayan Embassy in the United States, led by current Ambassador Germán Hugo Rojas.

Rojas stated to 5días magazine that expanding Paraguay’s trade agenda to the US and improving the exchange of product information between both countries were among the discussed topics with Abdo Benítez. “We are one step away from the approval of access, placement and distribution of meat to the US market”, Rojas highlighted.

In October 2017 the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) presented the results of a risk assessment regarding beef exportation from Paraguay to the United States, a step for allowing Paraguayan meat to have access to the US market. The US Embassy in Paraguay congratulated the government, its technical personnel and the national livestock industry for “such important step, which demonstrates the seriousness and technical capacity of the animal health system in Paraguay”. Paraguay has also recently agreed to accept imports of US pork, beef and natural casings, along with poultry, eggs, live animals and genetics. 

Paraguayan beef output in 2018 is forecast at 620,000 tons cwe (carcass weight equivalent), an increase from the previous two years, at a time where Paraguayan producers have continued to invest heavily in improving their herd quality through the use of superior genetics. “The country’s beef industry is thriving and it is a rising star on the export front”, the US Meat Export Federation valued on a 2014 article.