PARIS (Reuters) – Convoy after convoy of frustrated farmers embarked on a mission Sunday to disrupt traffic on the outskirts of Paris, voicing their grievances against perceived unfair competition from abroad and burdensome regulations.
Hailing from France, the European Union’s agricultural powerhouse, farmers spearheaded large-scale protests across Europe at the commencement of 2024. However, as the year progressed, the momentum waned. The recent joint announcement by the EU and South American nations in the Mercosur bloc regarding the preliminary accord on a free trade agreement has reignited the fervor of French farmers staunchly opposed to the Mercosur deal.
In addition to their opposition to the Mercosur deal, French farmers are contending with what they view as stifling regulations eroding their bottom line. Representatives from farming trade unions are scheduled to convene with French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on January 13 to articulate their apprehensions.
Amelie Rebiere, Vice President of the Co-ordination Rurale farming trade union, expressed the dire situation facing farmers to BFM TV, remarking, “They fail to grasp the extent of the hardship and anguish that farmers are currently enduring.”
Proponents of the EU’s Mercosur agreement, such as Germany, assert that it presents a pathway to diversifying trade partners beyond China and insulating EU member states from the repercussions of prospective trade levies under the forthcoming U.S. administration led by President-elect Donald Trump.
Nevertheless, a substantial cohort of European farmers, prominently led by their French counterparts, have persistently rallied against the EU-Mercosur pact, citing concerns that it would inundate the market with cheap South American goods, particularly beef, that fail to meet EU safety benchmarks.
The discontent among farmers has underscored a broader rift within the agricultural sector, pitting proponents of expanded trade agreements against those advocating for the preservation of domestic standards and protections.
