PHL, Paraguay sign visa-waiver deal, explore agricultural trade prospects

THE PHILIPPINES and Paraguay agreed to explore expanded trade in agricultural goods, with the proposed exchange involving exports of tuna, sardines and milkfish, in exchange for grain, oilseeds and agro-industrial products.

The proposals were aired during the visit by Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios to Manila, the first such visit since diplomatic relations were established in 1962.

“I raised the possibilities of Philippine export of tuna, sardines, milkfish, and other products to Paraguay, which will certainly give a boost to our local industry,”  President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said after their meeting.

“The Philippines views itself as a gateway to Asia and Paraguay a gateway to Latin America,” he added.

The two sides agreed to waive visa requirements for holders of ordinary passports, establishing a reciprocal arrangement that allows visa-free entry for passport holders to support business, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between Manila and Asuncion, the Palace said.

Paraguay’s Mr. Peña said its offerings can help address the Philippines’ food-security concerns, while offering “competitive conditions for the maquila industry,” referring to foreign-owned manufacturing operations that enjoy duty-free import privileges for products that will subsequently be exported. He also cited “attractive incentives for foreign investment, and a logistic platform in full expansion thanks to the Bioceanic Corridor, positioning us as a natural bridge between the Atlantic and the Pacific.”

He said Paraguay has conveyed its intention to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

“This decision reflects our firm determination to integrate into the regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in line with the principles of peace, respect for sovereignty, and the peaceful settlement of disputes that have historically guided Paraguay’s foreign policy,” he said.

“It is an opportunity that we must seize with determination to advance a more structural dialogue between both regions,” Mr. Peña said.

Paraguay holds the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR or the Southern Common Market, the South American free-trade bloc. The Philippines currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, total trade with Paraguay in 2025 amounted to $2.2 million, with exports at $1.9 million and imports at $322,400.

In 2025, the Philippines logged 220 tourist arrivals from Paraguay, up from 191 recorded a year earlier.

Filipinos resident in Paraguay numbered 63, most of them based in Asuncion, largely composed of teachers, professionals and permanent residents married to locals. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana