Having entered the first half of 2026, MERCOSUR's external negotiations remain a strategic priority. Under Paraguay's Pro Tempore Presidency, the XXVII session was held in Asunción on January 27 and 28. Ordinary Meeting of the External Relations Group (GRELEX), a key space for coordinating the bloc's regional and extra-regional agenda, reported the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this context, Paraguay presented “a comprehensive assessment of the main advances and challenges in foreign trade policy,” reaffirming that GRELEX is “a central technical-political forum for monitoring existing, negotiated, and exploratory agreements.” Furthermore, the country emphasized the importance of consolidating “a balanced, predictable, and responsive international integration for MERCOSUR that is sensitive to the realities of all Member States.”
In detail, a review of the bloc's external negotiations is carried out:
Extraregional Agenda
Regarding the agreements already signed With countries from the Asian and European continents, the delegations celebrated “the upcoming entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement MERCOSUR–Singapore”, scheduled for February 2026 in the case of Paraguay, while for Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay that treaty still needs to complete its national ratifications. They also highlighted “the celebration of the free trade agreements already signed with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and with the European Union”, both recently signed —the first in September 2025 in Rio de Janeiro and the second on January 17, 2026 in Asunción—, although their ratification and implementation processes are still underway.
At the same time, the following were highlighted: ongoing negotiations which demonstrate MERCOSUR's strategy of diversifying its external relations. In particular, Paraguay emphasized the importance of moving towards the prompt conclusion of negotiations with the United Arab EmiratesLocated on the Asian continent, within the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. According to official sources, these negotiations also include to Canada (North America) and CSouth Korea (East Asia / Southeast Asia).
Amongst the open negotiation fronts, where there is still no formal exchange of texts, are included:
- Japan (East Asia), with the first meeting of its Strategic Partnership Framework on January 27 and 28, 2026 in Asunción, in which "the complementarity between both economies" was highlighted.
- Vietnam (Southeast Asia), whose launch was announced in Foz do Iguaçu in December 2025.
- Indonesia (Southeast Asia), in the exploratory stage.
- China (East Asia), also in initial negotiation processes.
- United Kingdom (Europe), in exploratory stages of cooperation.
Regional external agenda
The MERCOSUR negotiations also include the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, with the deepening of existing agreements with its member countries. Among these, the accession of [countries/countries] stands out. Panama as an Associated State in December 2024 and the updating of the agreements with Chile, Peru, Colombia and EcuadorFurthermore, negotiations are ongoing with El Salvador and an exploratory dialogue is maintained with the Dominican Republic.
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