On January 27, 2026, the first meeting of the Mercosur–Japan Strategic Partnership Framework was held in Asunción. The mechanism was established during the South American bloc’s summit held on December 21, 2025, in Foz de Iguazú.
The meeting was attended by Paraguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Motoyuki Ishize. The authorities analyzed alternatives to strengthen economic ties between Japan and the Mercosur countries, as well as the necessary steps toward a potential negotiation of a free trade agreement.
During the technical meeting, the delegations highlighted the complementarity of their economies and agreed to prioritize strategic sectors such as value chain integration, energy transition, and the digital economy.
