French farmers in tractors blocked roads around the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe on Thursday, protesting an imminent EU trade deal with South American countries that they claim will create unfair competition. The protest, organized by the Coordination Rurale union, saw dozens of tractors overrun police checkpoints to reach central Paris.
EU states are due to vote on Friday on the agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the four members of the Mercosur trade bloc. If ratified, it would create a common market of nearly 800 million people, boosting EU exports of vehicles, machinery, wines, and spirits. However, many European farmers fear being undercut by cheaper agricultural imports from Mercosur.
“We are between resentment and despair. We have a feeling of abandonment – with Mercosur being an example,” said Stéphane Pelletier, a senior member of Coordination Rurale, speaking beneath the Eiffel Tower. The French government warned it would not tolerate illegal roadblocks, with spokesperson Maud Bregeon stating that blocking roads or attempting to gather in front of parliament is illegal.
The Mercosur deal is backed by Germany and Spain, but France, mindful of its powerful farming lobby, has long opposed it. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Thursday that he would vote against the deal, citing “unanimous political rejection” in France, though this is unlikely to derail it. The European Commission has proposed an extra €45bn in EU funding for farmers to win support, and Italy’s backing now appears likely to secure approval by qualified majority.
