"Paraguay is preparing for the signing of the long-awaited trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union on January 17, after the deal was formally approved by the EU, bringing 25 years of negotiations to a close. Footage filmed on Thursday shows the facilities of the Gran Teatro Jose Asuncion Flores, located at the Central Bank of Paraguay, the venue where the signing of the agreement between both blocs will take place. Francisco Solano, a Paraguayan citizen, said Europeans "have never been benevolent towards us" and 'exploited' the region, adding that they are now backing the deal because the EU countries "lack enough food." "I think there is a dependency and they are betting on Latin America," he said. Marcelo Lopez, another Paraguayan citizen, said the agreement "will be very beneficial," arguing that Europe currently needs labour from South America. He added that the deal is expected to boost trade in Paraguayan exports, including food and meat products. Derlis Bogado, a gastronomy business consultant, said Europe's productive model is not being questioned, but rather its ability to produce more and sustain that production over time. "I do not think it is due to an inability to produce, but perhaps the numbers are tighter when buying from South America and having the finished product in their countries." "I see it as an expansion where each point will be able to satisfy the needs of another point, whether Europe or America, in this case, Latin America. I do not see it as an incapacity. I see a much bigger opening and I believe that in a trade agreement, both win," he said. Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano said the EU delegation will be led by Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa. He also confirmed the attendance of Javier Milei, Rodrigo Paz, Yamandu Orsi, and Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, as Panama moves towards joining Mercosur. However, farmers across Europe have been protesting for months against the EU-Mercosur deal, stressing it will bring broader grievances, including rising costs and stagnant incomes.  Despite the planned signing, the agreement will not take immediate effect. It must still be approved by the European Parliament and ratified by Mercosur member states, a process expected to take several months. Negotiated over 25 years, the deal would phase out most tariffs over 15 years, creating a free-trade area encompassing approximately 780 million people."