French farmers took to the streets in tractors, creating a blockade around the parliament in Paris to voice their objections to the Mercosur trade agreement involving the European Union and several South American nations.
On Tuesday morning, approximately 350 tractors arrived in Paris, urging the government to take decisive action regarding the upcoming Mercosur trade deal with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, which EU Prime Minister Ursula von der Leyen is set to sign in Asunción on Saturday.
The negotiations have been ongoing for more than two decades, yet there is widespread dissent in France, with various political factions expressing concerns over the potential repercussions for the nation’s critical agricultural sector.
Opponents argue that the Mercosur deal would inundate Europe with low-cost meat and produce from countries like Argentina and Brazil, where business expenses—like labor and land—are significantly lower. This situation has led farmers in France and Italy to fear they might struggle to keep up with cheaper imports.
Last week, France wasn’t able to rally enough support from other EU member states to block the ratification of the agreement.
Thomas, a 25-year-old farmer, shared his views outside the National Assembly in Paris, stating that he participated in the protest to address the “distortions of competition within Europe.”
Another farmer, Hector, expressed his frustrations, saying, “Making a decent living as a farmer today is tough, especially in a free market environment. Instead of giving out checks that often seem ineffective, we ought to reconsider how we tax agricultural enterprises.”
Even before the Mercosur agreement, farmers across France and Europe were already grappling with stringent regulations and taxes, many implemented by Brussels as part of the Green New Deal, which had previously prompted significant protests with tractors in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
In recent years, the financial pressures on French farmers have intensified, with the country’s agricultural trade surplus plummeting from 4.5 billion euros ($5.25 billion) in 2024 to just 125 million euros ($146 million) in October, reflecting a downward trend from a surplus of 10.5 billion euros ($12.25 billion) in 2015.
During the protests outside the National Assembly, a few notable politicians showed their support, including Sebastien Chenu, deputy speaker and a member of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. He assured farmers that his party fully supported their demands.
Marion Maréchal, linked to the Le Pen family, joined the farmers in urging President Emmanuel Macron to reconsider France’s financial contributions to the EU budget in a bid to compel Brussels to retract from the Mercosur deal.
However, farmers remained skeptical about whether Paris would take any steps to block the agreement. Arnaud Rousseau, president of the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions, mentioned that the focus would now shift to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“We’re planning a visit to Strasbourg on the 20th because we realize that the decision on Mercosur is shifting to the European institutions,” Rousseau stated.
